^n 


,..  ^.^^  .F73 

.  . J  ^ 

Frey,  Joseph 

Samuel  C 

F. 

1771-1850. 

Narrative  of 

the  Rev. 

Josep: 

9,,qrrjiiP,  1  r     .  F 

FrPV 

•-^  ^  m-S-t^.^^^^ 


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*  *  *•**      w. '^^  ^ 


NARRATIVE^         viAY  6-1' 


&BV.    JOSEPH    SAnKUEXi    C.    X-.    VKBV 

AUTHOR   OF 

A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR; 
HEBREW,   LATIN,  AND   ENGLISH   DICTIONARY; 


EDITOR  OF   VANDER  HOOGHT'S  HEBREW  BIBLE. 


ELEVENTH  EDITION. 


NEW- YORK : 

PRINTED   FOR   THE   AUTHOR. 

SOLD    BY-  J.    K.    MOORE,    CLINTON    HALL. 


D.   FANSHAW,  >&INTeR. 

ia34. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1833,  by  the 
Rev.  Joseph  C.  F.  Fret,  in  the  Clerk's  OiBce  of  the  District  Court 
of  th©  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


PREFACE 


>ITION. 

• 


<^. 


In  presenting  to  the  public  the  eleventh  edition  of  his  Narra- 
tive, the  author  feels  no  inclination  to  write  a  long  preface ;  nor 
has  he  added  much  to  the  body  of  the  work  j  it  having  been  his 
chief  object  to  give  a  plain,  simple,  and  unadorned,  but  con- 
nected and  faithful  statement  of  the  dealings  of  God  with  him 
for  the  last  threescore  years,  he  has  studied  to  unite  perspicuity 
with  brevity.  The  work  might  easily  have  been  extended  to  a 
much  larger  size^  but  this  would  necessarily  have  increased  the 
expense  and  limited  its  usefulness.  He  ha^,  however,  added  an 
Appendix,  containing  answers  to  a  variety  of  questions  relative 
to  the  Jews  and  the  Ten  Tribes.  That  He  who  has  been  pleased 
to  bless  the  former  editions  to  precious  souls,  might  condescend 
to  crown  the  present  with  his  divine  benediction,  is  the  heart's 
desire  and  prayer  of  the 

Author. 
JVew-For/r,  March^  1834. 


y 


PREFACE. 


"-^v-VN 


w 


Tii'E  ftf&t  e^ticm  oR  tl):is  Narrative  was  published  in  London 
in  1809.  Soon  after,  a  second,  and  then  a  third  edition  were 
called  for.  Three  or  four  editions  had  been  published  at  Boston 
before  the  author  came  to  this  country ;  and  in  1817  he  published 
a  new  edition,  much  enlarged.  In  the  preface  to  that  edition 
the  author  has  the  following  observation : 

"  In  perusing  the  following  pages,  the  reader  is  particularly- 
requested  to  keep  in  view  the  nature  and  design  of  the  work. 
It  is  a  Narrative,  and  not  a  confession  of  faith,  nor  a  defence  of 
Christianitj^,  nor  an  argumentative  discourse  to  convince  and 
persuade  the  Jews  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion ;  the  sole 
design  of  the  author  is  to  furnish  the  public  at  large,  and  his 
Jewish  brethren  in  particular,  with  the  means  of  judging  for 
themselves  of  his  character  while  among  his  own  people  3  of  his 
motives  for  embracing  the  Christian  religion ;  and  the  manner 
in  which  he  has  ever  since  sought  to  promote  the  salvation  of 
his  kinsmen  after  the  flesh.  The  author  thought  it,  therefore, 
necessary  that  this  Narrative  should  contain  a  faithful  account 
of  all  the  ways  in  which  the  Lord  has  graciously  led  him,  for 
more  than  forty  years,  in  the  wilderness." 

By  these  means,  those  who  doubted  whether  the  author  was 
a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews,  had  it  in  their  power  to  ascertain  the 
truth  by  a  single  letter  to  his  parents ;  and  had  he  been  guilty 
of  any  immoral  conduct  before  he  embraced  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, his  own  kindred  would  have  thought  a  disclosure  of  it  a 
*1 


PREFACE.  O 

service  done  to  God.  The  author  having,  by  embracing  the 
Christian  religion,  given  up  all  prospects  of  future  intercourse 
with,  and  enjoyment  of,  his  parents,  friends,  and  kindred,  and 
voluntarily  chosen,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  to  learn  a  trade, 
that  he  might  earn  his  bread  by  his  own  industry,  will  doubt- 
less convince  the  candid  reader  that  his  sole  motive  was  a  love 
of  truth.  The  author  also  hopes  that  the  plain  and  simple  state- 
ment of  facts  will  evince,  that,  from  the  commencement  of  his 
ministerial  labors  to  the  present  time,  he  has  been  actuated  in 
all  his  proceedings  by  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  the  spiritual 
and  eternal  welfare  of  his  Jewish  brethren. 

The  author  was  perfectly  aware  that  such  a  statement  would 
expose  him  to  divers  remarks.  Some  scorn  his  learning  a  trade ; 
but  he,  like  Noah's  dove,  prefers  a  bitter  leaf  of  his  own  indus- 
try^to  all  the  riches  and  pleasures  gained  in  any  other  way. 
The  patriarch  Jacob  served  twice  seven  years'  apprenticeship 
for  his  wives,  and  six  additional  years  to  make  provision  for  his 
family.  Moses,  the  servant  of  God,  and  deliverer  of  our  fathers 
from  the  house  of  bondage,  was  forty  years  a  shepherd.  David, 
the  man  after  God's  own  heart,  was  called  froia  following  the 
sheep-fold  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  Israel.  Prophets,  evangelists, 
and  apostles  were  brought  up  to  earn  their  bread  by  the  labor 
of  their  own  hands.  The  Talmud  makes  it  as  much  the  duty 
of  a  father  to  teach  his  son  a  trade,  as  to  teach  him  the  law  of 
Moses.  Nor  did  it  ever  enter  the  mind  of  a  Jew  to  erase  the 
name  of  Rabbi  Yochanon  Hasandler  from  the  list  of  the  learned 
rabbins  because  he  was  a  shoemaker. 

The  eighth  edition  having  been  for  some  time  out  of  print, 
and  frequent  applications  made  for  a  new  edition,  the  author 
has  revised  and  reduced  the  work  to  a  small  bulk,  by  omitting 
much  that  was  connected  with  the  proceedings  of  the  London 
society,  and  added  in  its  place  his  employment  since  his  arrival 
in  this  country  to  the  present  time,  together  with  the  origin  and 


6  PREFACE, 

progress  of  the  American  Society  for  Meliorating  the  Condition 
of  the  Jews. 

That  the  former  editions  have  been  useful,  the  author  has 
had  many  proofs.  In  a  letter  received  from  the  late  Miss  Han- 
nah Adams,  dated  Boston,  October,  1816,  she  has  the  following 
paragraph : 

"  The  perusal  of  your  life  first  awakened  the  attention  of  a 
number  of  ladies  in  Boston  to  the  state  of  God's  ancient  covenant 
people.  On  the  fifth  of  June  last  they  formed  themselves  into  an 
association,  to  be  called  '  the  Female  Society  of  Boston  and  the 
vicinity,  for  promoting  Christianity  among  Jews.' "  It  affords 
t  he  author  not  a  little  encouragement  to  know  that  this  society 
has  continued  active  and  useful  hitherto. 

That  the  blessing  of  God  may  rest  upon  this  edition,  is  the 
sincere  desire  of 

The  Author. 


CONTENTS 


Chap.  I.  His  birth  and  education,      .        .        .        Page  9 

II.  Religious  offices  which  he  sustained  among  the 

Jews, 1^ 

III.  Time  and  place  of  his  embracing  the  Christian 

Religion, 22 

IV.  Circumstances  which  led  him  to  a  farther  ac- 

quaintance with  divine  truth,        .        .        .27 

V.  Entrance  into  the  Missionary  Seminary  at  Berlin,  40 

VI.  My  design  in  coming  to  England,        .         .  48 

VII.  Labors  under  the  patronage  of  the  Missionary 

Society, 64 

VIII.  Rise  and  progress  of  the  London  Society  for 
Promoting  Christianity  among  the  Jews,  117 

IX.  Labors  in  this  country,       ....  149 

X.  Origin  and  progress  of  the  American  Society 

for  Meliorating  the  Condition  of  the  Jews,  151 

XL  His  change  of  views  on  the  subject  of  Baptism,  161 

Appendix, 167 


NARIiATIVB 


aSTT.  J0SB3?H  SAMWBS.  C.  F.  r'B.IS"S^. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HIS    BIRTH    AND    EDUCATION. 

It  pleased  God,  in  whom  I  live,  move,  and  have 
my  being,  to  favor  me  with  the  light  of  this  world, 
Sept.  21,  1771.  The  place  of  my  nativity  is  Mayn- 
stockheim,  near  to  Wurtsburgh,  in  Franconia,  Ger- 
many. My  father,  Samuel  Levi,  was  nineteen  years 
a  private  tutor  in  a  Jewish  family  at  Maynburnheim  ; 
and,  after  he  had  married,  continued,  as  it  were,  day 
and  night  in  the  study  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  and 
the  traditions  of  men,  and  acted  as  Morah  Tzedeck, 
whilst  my  mother  carried  on  the  trade  by  which  the 
family  was  comfortably  supported. 

Morah  Tzedeck  is  a  person  to  whom  the  Jews 
apply  ,for  direction  in  difficulties  arising  from  the 
observation  of  the  innumerable  religious  ceremonies 
with  which  the  Jewish  ritual  abounds  ;  and  the  cases 
on  which  a  person  is  consulted  are  such  as  the  fol- 
lowing :  If  a  grain  of  corn  should  be  found  in  any 
kind  of  food  during  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread, 
it  may  happen  that  not  only  the  food  must  be  thrown 
away,  but  even  the  vessels  which  contained  any  part 
of  it  dare  not  again  be  used  during  the  feast.  Or 
suppose  a  family,  while  feasting  on  meat  or  fowl, 
should  find  that  their  knife  or  fork  is  one  of  those 
which  are  used  in  eating  food  prepared  with  milk 


10  trey's  narrative. 

or  butter,  the  company  must  desist  from  eating  any 
more  of  those  victuals ;  nor  dare  they  use  any  of 
those  knives,  plates,  or  other  vessels,  until  the  case 
has  been  decided  by  the  Morah  Tzedeck,  whose 
verdict  is  very  frequently  that  the  food  must  be 
thrown  away,  and  the  earthen  and  china  vessels  in 
which  it  was  served  be  broken  to  pieces.  Such  like 
questions  are  daily  brought  before  the  Morah  Tze- 
deck ;  and  in  towns  where  as  many  as  seventy  fami- 
lies live,  as  is  the  case  in  my  native  place,  such 
questions  are  continually  arising. 

According  to  the  religion  of  my  parents,  I  was 
circumcised  on  the  eighth  day  after  my  birth,  and 
received  my  name,  Joseph  Samuel.  The  reason  why 
I  have  now  the  addition  of  three  names,  will  be 
given  in  Chap.  III.  Jewish  children  are  called  by 
the  name  of  the  nearest  relation  who  is  dead,  perhaps 
in  reference  to  Deut.  25  :  6  :  accordingly,  the  first 
child  was  called  Levi^  which  was  the  name  of  my 
father's  father ;  the  second,  being  a  daughter,  re- 
ceived the  name  of  my  mother's  mother ;  and  as  I 
was  the  third  child,  I  received  the  name  of  my 
mother's  father,  whose  name  was  .Toseph.  My  pa- 
rents had  ten  children,  five  daughters,  and  as  many 
sons.  My  sisters  were  taught  to  read  the  prayer- 
book  in  the  Hebrew  language,  i.  e.  to  pronounce 
the  words  without  understanding  even  the  literal 
meaning  of  a  single  sentence.  This,  alas  !  is  usually 
all  the  religious  education  which  the  females  receive, 
and  many  of  them  even  not  so  much. 

Those  who  believe  that  females  have  souls  as 
well  as  males,  and  that  they  are  as  much  interested 
in  the  new  covenant  blessings  as  the  sons  of  Abra- 
ham, will  as  much  lament  the  neglect  of  their  edu- 
cation as  they  will  disapprove  of  the  impious  daily 
thanksgiving  of  every  Jew  :  "  Blessed  art  thou  Je- 
hovah our  God,  King  of  the  world,  that  thou  hast 


prey''s  narrative.  H 

not  made  me  a  woman."  Christian  females,  let 
me  entreat  you  not  only  to  shed  the  tear  of  compas- 
sion over  the  miserable  and  degraded  state  of  your 
Jewish  sisters,  but  most  earnestly  to  supplicate  the 
throne  of  grace  that  the  God  of  Israel  would  "  bring 
his  daughters  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  as  well  as 
his  sons  from  afar." 

Here  I  would  take  the  opportunity  of  rectifying 
an  erroneous  sentiment  propagated  from  the  pulpit 
and  the  press  :  that  it  is  the  behef,  both  of  Jews  and 
Mahometans,  that  their  females  had  no  souls.  Such 
a  sentiment  I  have  never  heard  from  the  lips  of  a 
Jew,  nor  met  with  in  their  writings.  On  the  con- 
trary, it  is  evident  that  they  believe  females  have 
souls  ;  for  the  same  prayer  which  is  used  for  the  souls 
of  males  to  be  delivered  out  of  purgatory,  is  also  read 
for  the  females.  The  origin  of  the  above  error  is, 
I  suppose,  an  inference  from  the  degraded  state  in 
which  the  Jewesses  have  formerly  been  held ;  but 
this  is  a  mistake.  Their  havinfj^  been  neo^lected  in 
religious  education,  or  thought  inferior  to  males, 
was  owing  to  the  covenant  of  circumcision  being 
made  with  males,  and  not  with  females. 

My  brothers  and  myself  were  put  under  the  care 
of  a  tutor  in  our  own  family,  who  instructed  us  daily 
according  to  the  Law  and  the  Talmud  ;  and  every 
Saturday  we  were  examined  by  our  father  in  what 
we  had  learned  during  the  week.  Our  tutor  took 
every  opportiuiity  to  impress  us  with  prejudices  and 
hatred  against  the  Christian  religion.  Whilst  ex- 
plaining the  five  books  of  Moses,  he  mentioned  in 
every  place  the  opinions  of  Christians,  raised  ohjec- 
iions  against  them,  and  endeavored  to  establish  us 
in  all  the  Jewish  errors.  On  the  evening  preceding 
the  25th  of  December,  it  being  supposed  that  Jesus 
Christ  was  born  on  that  evening,  the  Jews  do  not 
study  any  thing  sacred ;    but  our  teacher  always 


12  FREYS    NARRATIVE. 

made  us  read  a  little  book  called  Toltoth  Jeshu,  i.  e. 
the  generation  of  Jesus;  which  contains  the  most 
horrid  blasphemies,  and  is  calculated  to  fill  any  per- 
son who  believes  it,  with  prejudice,  disgust,  and 
hatred  against  Jesus  and  his  followers. 

The  forementioned  practice  of  the  Jewish  teach- 
ers was  more  strictly  observed  by  ours,  by  the  ex- 
press desire  of  my  dear  mother,  who  was  a  most 
inveterate  enemy  to  Christianity,  because  her  bro- 
ther had  embraced  the  Christian  religion,  and  had 
lived  and  died  at  Strasburgh,  in  the  faith  of  the  Son 
of  God.  This  circumstance  gave  rise  to  a  common 
saying  in  my  native  town,  whenever  a  quarrel  arose 
between  the  Jewish  boys  and  my  brothers ;  and  in 
particular  as  to  myself,  who  was  always  the  wildest, 
it  was  generally  said,  "  Let  them  alone,  they  will 
certainly  turn  Christians,  as  their  uncle  did."  For 
ever  blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  has  accomplished  this 
prophecy  in  me,  the  most  unworthy.  "  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits,  who 
forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities,  who  healeth  all  thy 
diseases,  who  redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruction, 
who  crowneth  thee  with  loving  kindness  and  tender 
mercies." 

My  mother  herself  narrowly  watched  us,  and 
would  never  suflfer  us  to  read  any  book  but  in  the 
Hebrew  language,  lest  wc  should  read  any  thing 
about  the  Christian  religion.  The  reader  will  not 
wonder  at  my  mother's  conduct,  when  he  is  informed 
that  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion  brings  greater 
reproach  upon  the  family  than  if  all  the  children 
had  been  guilty  of  the  worst  of  crimes ;  and  the 
person  himself  who  believes  the  Christian  religion, 
becomes  the  object  of  their  utmost  abhorrence.  One 
of  the  names  by  which  such  a  person  is  called,  is 
Meshum^^^atU  f»*o«^  the  root  Shamadj  which  signifies 
to  destr     ;  and  to  this  name  they  generally  add  Yc- 


13 

tnach  shcmo  vesichro;  i.  e.  let  his  name  and  memory 
be  blotted  out. 

The  advantages  and  disadvantages  arising  from 
this  mode  of  education  I  now  experience  frequently  ; 
v\'hilst  on  the  one  hand  it  was  the  means  of  my  pro- 
gress in  Jewish  learning,  on  the  other  hand  it  kept 
me  in  perfect  ignorance  of  all  other  useful  know- 
ledge ;  until  my  24th  year  I  had  not  seen  a  New- 
Testament,  nor  a  translation  of  the  Old.  What 
little  knowledge  I  now  possess,  is  to  be  ascribed  to 
the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  diligent  use  of  means 
since  I  came  among  Christians. 

Before  I  was  three  years  old  I  began  the  Hebrew 
alphabet ;  and  when  but  six  years  of  age  could  per- 
fectly read  any  chapter  of  the  books  of  Moses.    It 
is  true,  I  understood  very  little  of  the  true  meaning 
of  the  jn-ecepts,  and  of  the  real  design  of  the  cere- 
monies contained  in  those  books  ;  yet  ten  thousand 
thanks  to  my  dear  parents,  who  taught  me  the  sacred 
Scriptures  from  a  child,  the  fruits  of  which  I  now 
reap  daily.    About  that  time  it  pleased  God  to  afflict 
me  with  the  small-pox,  which  brought  on  a  long  and 
painful  illness,  and  my  life  was  supposed  to  be  in 
danger  for  about  a  year  and  a  half,  during  which 
time  I  forgot  what  [  had  formerly  learned  ;  the  sight 
of  my  left  eye  was  also  injured,  and  I  lost  the  use  of 
speech  ;    but,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  I  was 
gradually  restored  to  the  use  of  my  eye,  and  soon 
recovered   my  speech.     The  latter,  however,  has 
always  continued  in  a  measure  defective ;  and  even 
at  present,  in  reading  a  long-contiuued  sentence,  I 
experience  some  degree  of  hesitation.     This  for- 
merly had  often  been  a  source  of  grief  to  me  ;  but, 
blessed  be  God,  I  have  long  since  seen  the  wisdom 
and  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  this  fatherly  chastise- 
ment, (as  will  appear,  chap.  3,)  and  I  shall,  I  trust, 
have  reason  to  say  through  eternity,  that  "this  light. 

2 


affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  has  worked 
out  for  me  a  far  more  exceedinf]^  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory." 

On  my  recovery,  I  was  again  instructed  in  the 
section  out  of  the  Law  appointed  for  the  week,  with 
the  explanation  of  Rasht,  i.  e.  Rabbi  Solomon 
Yarchi ;  and  was  also  taught  a  chapter  every  day 
out  of  the  former  prophets  and  the  Hagiographa; 
but  never  was  any  part  of  the  latter  prophets,  except 
what  is  contained  in  the  Haphtoroth,  explained  to 
me ;  no  wonder,  therefore,  that  I  was  ignorant  of 
what  they  had  written  concerning  Messiah.^ 

It  is  an  ancient  custom  among  the  Jews,  to  read 
in  the  synagogues,  every  sabbath  day,  a  section  out 
of  the  Law,  or  five  books  of  Moses,  so  as  to  read 
the  whole  once  every  year ;  and  as  their  leap-year 
has  fifty-four  weeks,  they  have  divided  the  law  into 
so  many  sections,  each  of  which  is  called  Scdrah, 
or  Section.  In  those  years  which  have  not  so  many 
weeks,  and  in  which  no  festivals  fall  on  the  sabbath, 
two  sections  are  joined  on  certain  sabbath  days.  It 
is  handed  down  as  a  tradition,  that  when  Antiochus 
Epiphanes  prohibited  the  reading  of  the  Law,  they 
substituted  fifty-four  portions  out  of  the  prophets, 
which  they  call  Haphtoroth^  one  of  which  is  still 
read  every  sabbath  day  after  the  section  of  the  Law 
is  finished.  I  have  often  been  surprised  that  in  the 
selection  of  these  Haphtoroth^  those  parts  which 

*  The  Hebreu',  or  Old  Testament,  contains  twenty-lour  book^;, 
which  are  divided  into  Toruh.  Neviim,  and  Kethuvim.  The 
Torah,  or  Law,  contains  the  five  books  of  RIoscs.  Neviim,  or 
Prophets,  are  again  divided  into  \\\(i former  prophets,  containing 
Joshua,  Judges,  Samuel,  and  Kings,  -^iie  latter  prophets  con- 
tain Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  and  the  12  minor  prophets,  v^h. 
are  considered  as  one  book.  Kethuvim  or  Hagiographa^  con- 
tains the  Psalms,  Proverbs,  Job,  Canticles,  Ruth,  Lamentations, 
Ecclesiastcs,  Esther,  Daniel,  Ezra,  Nebemiah,  and  Chronicles. 
Ezra  and  Nehemiah  arc  one  book.; 


frey's  narrative.  i5 

speak  the  plainest  respecting  the  Messiah  are  left 
out,  especially  as  the  52d  and  54th  chapters  of 
Isaiah  are  appointed,  but  tlie  three  last  verses  of  the 
52d  chapter,  and  the  whole  of  the  53d,  are  skipped 
over.  The  only  reason  I  can  assign  is,  that  the 
people  might  be  kept  in  ignorance  of  Him  of  whom 
the  prophets  spake,  and  of  whom  it  is  written  in 
the  book  of  Psalms.  The  omission  of  so  many  pre- 
cious and  most  important  poi'tions  of  the  writings 
of  the  holy  prophets,  as  the  7th,  9th,  and  53d  chap- 
ters of  Isaiah,  the  23d  chapter  of  Jeremiah,  and 
the  whole  book  of  Daniel,  particularly  the  9th  chap- 
ter, has  led  me,  among  other  reasons  taken  notice 
of  by  Vitringa,  (de  Synag.  vet.  lib.  3,  p.  2,  c.  11,  p. 
1007,)  to  suspect  the  truth  of  the  antiquity  of  the 
selection  of  these  Haphtoroth.  I  am  rather  inclined 
to  think  that,  at  a  much  later  date,  to  prevent  the 
people  from  reading  the  whole  Bible,  this  method 
has  been  adopted.  Hence  we  find  most  Jewish 
families  in  the  possession  onJi/  of  that  Hebrew  Bible 
which  contains  no  more  than  the  Law,  the  Haphto- 
roth, and  five  books  out  of  the  Hagiographa,  viz. 
Canticles,  Ruth,  Lamentations,  Ecclesiastes,  and 
Esther.  This  circumstance  may  be  considered  as 
one  great  cause  why  so  very  fe.w  of  the  children  of 
Israel  know  any  thing  of  so  great  and  useful  a  part 
of  the  sacred  Scriptures. 

That  the  rabbins  have  studiously  prevented  the 
people  from  becoming  acquainted  with  the  predic- 
tions respecting  the  Messiah,  may  be  further  proved 
by  the  impious  circumstance,  recorded  by  several 
Jewish  writers,  that  a  curse  is  denounced  in  the 
name  of  R.  Jonathan,  a  great  man  amongst  the 
Jews,  against  the  computers  of  the  seventy  weeks 
in  the  9th  chapter  of  Daniel,  viz.  Tepach  azmonshel 
mechasuvay  Idzin,  i.  c.  "  let  their  bones  rot,  who 
compute  the  times  of  the  endJ'     My  beloved  bre- 


16  frey's  narrative. 

thren  and  kinsmen  after  the  flesh,  I  beseech  you,  if 
you  love  your  souls,  if  you  wish  to  be  really  happy 
in  the  life  that  now  is,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come, 
let  nothing  hinder  you  from  searching  the  Scriptures, 
"for  in  them  you  think  you  have  eternal  life,  and 
they  are  they  which  testify  of  the  Messiah." 

When  I  was  nine  years  old,  the  holy  book  of  God 
was  shut  up  and  laid  aside,  and  in  its  stead  the  pro- 
ductions of  men,  as  the  Mishnah,  Gemarali,  &c.  <fcc. 
were  brought  forth  and  eagerly  studied  by  me  in 
succession,  with  pleasure  and  satisfaction,  being  nou- 
rishment to  my  earthly  and  sensual  affections,  and 
fuel  to  my  corrupt  heart;  and  thus  was  I  four  years 
longer  absorbed  in  vain  speculations,  spending  my 
strength  for  nought.  .  On  the  first  sabbath  after  I 
was  thirteen  years  and  a  day  old,  I  read  in  the  syna- 
gogue, according  to  custom,  the  section  of  the  Law 
appointed  for  the  day ;  and  was  now  considered  a 
man.)  fit  to  be  one  of  the  ten  necessary  to  constitute 
a  full  number  for  public  worship.  I  was  now  obliged 
to  observe  the  Law  for  myself,  and  therefore  called 
Bar  Mizva,  and  was  no  longer  considered  under  the 
power  of  my  father.  I  had  now  arrived  at  that 
period  of  life  in  which  it  is  usual  with  the  Jews  to 
decide  whether  a  person  will  engage  in  business,  or 
qualify  himself  for  any  religious  office.  Having 
chosen  the  latter,  I  continued  five  years  longer  in  the 
study  of  the  Talmud  and  its  various  commentators. 

CHAPTER   II. 

RELIGIOUS  OFFICES  WHICH    HE    SUSTAINED  AMONG 
THE   JEWS. 

Having  attained  the  age  of  eighteen,  I  left  my 
father's  house  by  the  consent  of  my  parents,  and 


17 

went  to  Hesse,  where  I  officiated  as  BacJiar,  or 
tutor,  in  a  family  of  six  children,  teaching  them  to 
read  Hebrew,  and  to  understand  the  literal  mean- 
ing ef  the  five  books  of  Moses,  together  with  some 
parts  of  the  Mishnah,  and  also  writing  and  arith- 
metic. In  this  situation  I  continued  for  three  years, 
and  was  occupied  only  six  hours  a  day;  the  remain- 
der of  my  time  I  was  often  at  a  loss  how  to  spend. 
O  that  I  had  then  known  the  value  of  time,  and 
improved  it  suitably!  Lord,  remember  not  the  sins 
of  my  youth,  and  may  I  henceforth  "redeem  time, 
for  it  is  short."  Besides  free  board  and  lodging,  I 
received  about  twenty  dollars  per  quarter — a  con- 
siderable sum  in  Germany,  especially  for  a  single 
man.  Thus  I  thought  myself  rich,  and  "increased 
with  goods,  and  had  need  of  nothing;  not  knowing 
that  I  was  wretched,  and  lui^erable,  and  poor,  and 
blind,  and  naked." 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  I  received  an  appoint- 
ment as  Chasan,  or  leader  of  the  synagogue,  to  read 
the  public  prayers  and  the  Law  of  Moses.  At  this 
period  I  was  much  esteemed  among  my  brethren ; 
but  the  pride  of  my  heart  was  not  satisfied.  I  was 
determined  to  obtain  the  title  of  Shochat,  or  sustain 
the  office  of  killing  their  animals  for  food.  I  there- 
fore took  great  pains,  and  spent  a  whole  year  in 
obtaining  the  knowledge  of  the  Jewish  method  of 
preparing  the  knife  for  killing  the  animals,  and  to 
be  well  versed  in  the  laws  respecting  the  lungs. 
None  but  those  who  have  learned  these  ceremonies 
can  judge  of  the  difficulty  of  acquiring  such  a  know- 
ledge of  these  things  as  to  stand  an  examination. 
At  length  I  obtained  this  honorable  degree  from  the 
Rav,  or  Rabbi  of  Hesse  Cassel.  Li  the  use  of  these 
ceremonious  observances  I  was  extremely  strict, 
although  not  one  of  them  is  to  be  found  expressed 
in  the  book  of  God.     But  these  are  only  a  few  of 

2* 


18 

the  innumerable  vain  and  extremely  burdensome 
traditions  received  of  the  fathers.  O  blessed  Jesus! 
thy  yoke  is  easy,  and  thy  burden  light ;  for  by  thee 
the  weary  and  the  heavy  laden  find  rest.  Happy, 
thrice  happy,  those  who  are  brought  into  the  holy 
liberty  of  thy  glorious  and  everlasting  kingdom  ! 

About  this  time  my  mother  entered  into  a  large 
concern  of  business,  namely,  of  supplying  a  part  of 
the  Prussian  army  with  grain  and  provision,  lying 
then  at  Frankfort  on  the  Maine,  and  therefore 
wished  for  my  assistance  at  home.  I  complied  with 
her  wish,  and  returned  to  my  father's^  house.  But 
having  neither  skill  nor  pleasure  in  trade,  I  once 
more  left  my  kindred  and  my  country,  and  returned 
again  to  Hesse.  On  the  day  of  my  departure,  my 
dear  father  accompanied  me  a  little  way  out  of  the 
town,  and  at  the  moment  of  parting  he  laid  his  hand 
upon  my  head  to  give  me  a  parting  blessing.  The 
words  he  made  use  of  on  that  solemn  occasion  were 
then  deeply  impressed  on  my  mind,  and  will  never 
be  forgotten  by  me  ;  they  were  these  :  "The  angel 
of  the  covenant  be  with  thee."  Little  did  I  then 
think  that  he  alluded  to  the  Angel  Jehovah  who  a,p- 
peared  to  the  patriarchs  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob ; 
that  spoke  to  Moses  out  of  the  fiery  bush  ;  that  gave 
to  Israel  the  Law  from  Mount  Sinai ;  and  of  whom 
Jehovah  himself  said,  "Behold,  I  send  an  angel 
before  thee,  to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and  to  bring 
thee  into  the  place  which  I  have  prepared.  Beware 
of  him,  and  obey  his  voice  ;  provoke  him  not,  fo?'  he 
will  not  pardon  your  iramgressiovs  ;  for  my  name  is 
in  him,"*^  Neither  could  I  have  then  conceived,  what 
I  now  firmly  believe,  viz.  that  that  very  Angel  Jeho- 
vah is  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  v/as,  in  the  fullness  of 
time,  born  at  Bethlehem  ;  died  on  Mount  Calvary, 
to  atone  for  our  sins;  rose  again  for  our  justifica- 
tion ;  for  ever  liveth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  to 


19 

nmke  intercession  for  us  ;  and  who  will  come  again, 
(to  reign  on  the  earth  a  thousand  years,)  and  judge 
the  whole  w^orld  in  righteousness.  O  the  rich,  free, 
and  sovereign  love  of  my  God,  who  I  trust  has  re- 
vealed in  ine  Jesus  Christ  his  Son,  the  hope  of  eter- 
nal glory,  whilst  my  dear  family  were  left  in  Jewish 
unbelief.  However,  from  the  conduct  of  my  dear 
father  on  this  occasion ;  from  liis  deadness  to  all 
worldly  concerns  ;  from  his  delight  and  study  in  the 
Law  of  the  Lord  day  and  night ,  and,  above  all,  from 
his  secret  devotion,  I  have  often  been  led  to  indulge 
the  hope  that  he  has  been  a  believer  in  Jesus  Christ 
our  blessed  Savior ;  like  Nicodcmus,  who  came  to 
Jesus  by  nigltt  ;  and  like  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  who 
w^as  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  but  secretly,  for  fear  of  the 
Jews  ;  or  at  least  one  of  those  devout  Jews  who 
waited  far  the  consolation  of  Israel.     To  return. 

As  I  had  saved  some  money  in  the  preceding  years, 
'1  resolved  to  travel,  and  accordingly  made  a  tour 
through  Westphalia  to  the  borders  of  Holland,  and 
then  back  again  to  Gottiugen,  Hanover,  and  Ham- 
burgh. Here  I  stayed  about  nine  weeks,  and  boarded 
in  a  Jewish  family  where  many  strangers  resorted. 
One  day  a  Jewish  brother  informed  me  that  he  had 
received  a  letter  from  a  friend  desirous  to  obtain  a 
teacher  for  his  children.  After  some  conversation 
on  different  branches  of  learning,  and  examination 
of  my  credentials,  he  said,  "  You  are  the  very  man 
that  will  suit  my  friend;"  and  offered  me  a  letter  of 
introduction.  Being  tired  of  an  idle  life,  I  accepted 
of  his  offer,  and  gave  him  a  few  dollars  for  his  re- 
muneration. In  a  ^G\N  days  I  went  with  the  stage  to 
Schweri?i,  about  three  days'  journey  from  Ham- 
burgh, to  present  my  letter  of  introduction.  But 
how  great  was  my  astonisliment  when  the  gentle- 
man to  whom  I  presented  it  assured  me  that  he  had 
neither  written  for  a  teacher,  nor  had  any  children 


20  FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 

to  be  instructed  !  My  disappointment  in  not  getting 
51  situation  was  far  less  than  my  surprise  to  have 
been  thus  imposed  upon  by  one  of  my  own  brethren 
and  kinsmen  after  the  flesh.  The  words  of  David 
came  immediately  to  my  mind :  "  It  was  not  an 
enemy  that  reproached  me,  then  I  could  have  borne 
it."  But,  blessed  be  the  Lord  my  God,  who  has  so 
overruled  this  circumstance  that  I  can  now  adopt 
the  words  of  Joseph^  my  namesake,  "  He  thought 
evil  against  me,  but  God  meant  it  unto  good  ;  to 
bring  to  pass,  as  it  is  this  day,  to  save  much  people 
alive." 

Among  the  passengers  from  Hamburgh  to  Schwe- 
rin  was  a  Jewish  teacher,  and  a  young  Christian,  an 
agent  for  a  tobacco  factory  in  Hamburgh.  The 
latter  having  observed  a  great  difference  in  our  con- 
duct, (for  my  brother  Jew  plainly  <leclared,  by  his 
actions,  that  he  had  freed  himself  from  the  restraints 
of  Jewish  ceremonies;  for  he  ate  and  drank  freely 
of  every  thing  that  was  set  before  him  ;  whilst  I,  on 
the  contrary,  according  to  my  education,  ate  scarcely 
any  thing  but  bread  and  butter,  and  that  cut  with 
my  own  knife,  during  the  whole  journey,)  addressed 
US  thus  :  "  If  you  will  give  me  leave,  I  will  state  to 
you  my  opinion  concerning  the  different  manner  in 
which  you  act,  both  professing  to  be  Jews."  Hav- 
ing obtained  permission,  he  said  to  my  companion, 
"  You,  my  friend,  arc  neither  a  Jew  nor  a  Chris- 
tian, neither  hot  nor  cold  ;  if  you  think  yourself 
freed  from  Jewish  ceremonies,  you  ought  to  believe 
that  the  Messiah  has  come."  To  me  he  said,  "  I 
am  sorry  to  see  you  denying  yourself,  and  so  much 
troubled  with  the  burdens  which  your  fathers  were 
never  able  to  bear,  and  which  you  need  no  longer  to 
observe  ;  for,"  said  he,  in  continuance,  ''  the  cere- 
monial law  is  fulfilled,  and  taken  away  by  the  Mes- 
siah Jesus,  who  has  confirmed  the  new  covenant 


21 

with  his  biood  ;  as  it  was  foretold  by  the  prophet 
Jeremiah."  Here  he  took  out  his  Bible,  and  read 
as  follows :  "  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
that  I  will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house  of 
Israel,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah  ;  not  according 
to  the  covenant  that  I  made  whh  their  fathers,  in 
the  day  that  I  took  them  by  the  hand  to  brin*^  them 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  which  my  covenant  they 
brake,  although  I  was  a  husband  to  them,  saith  the 
Lord  ;  but  this  shall  be  the  covenant  that  I  will 
make  with  the  house  of  Israel :  after  those  days, 
saith  the  Lord,  I  will  write  my  law  in  their  inward 
parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts:  and  will  be  their 
God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people."  "You  per- 
ceive," said  he,  "that  the  covenant  of  ceremonies 
should  be  succeeded  by  another  and  better  covenant. 
It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  former  has  ceased ; 
for  sacrifices,  which  were  the  life  of  all  other  cere- 
monies, as  well  as  Jerusalem,  the  place  where  they 
were  to  be  offered  up,  are  both  no  more ;  the  new 
covenant  must  have  been  ratified,  and  this  has  been 
done  when  Jesus  died  on  the  cross,  and  the  veil  of 
the  temple  rent  from  the  top  to  the  bottom."  This 
portion  of  Scripture,  which  I  had  never  read  before, 
for  the  reasons  mentioned  above,  and  his  observa- 
tions, made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  u])on  my 
mind,  and  for  some  time  I  was  wretched  and  mise- 
rable, full  of  doubts  and  fears,  and  knew  not  what 
to  do.  To  my  Jewish  brethren  I  could  not  disclose 
my  feelings,  for  the  least  suspicion  of  doubts  re- 
specting the  truth  of  their  present  religion,  or  a 
favorable  opinion  respecting  that  of  the  Christians, 
would  have  inevitably  exposed  me  to  their  displea- 
sure, hatred,  or  persecution,  and  among  Christians 
I  had  no  acquaintance. 

Having  understood  that  my  Christian  friend  had 
gone  to  Ilostock,  I  resolved  to  follow  him.    From 


22 


this  time  I  must  date  the  commencement  of  a  new 
period  in  my  life. 


CHAPTER    III. 

TIME    AND   PLACE  OF    HIS    EMBRACI?;G  THE    CHRIS- 
TIAN   RELIGION. 

On  my  arrival  at  Ilostock  I  went  to  the  inn  near- 
est the  coach-office,  to  inquire  for  my  friend  ;  but 
coidd  get  no  information  respecting  him,  either  in  that 
place  nor  elsewhere.    Having  been  informed  that 
no  Jew  was  allowed  to  remain  in  that  city  for  a 
single  night  without  a  license  from  the  magistrate, 
for  which  a  certain  sum  was  to  be  paid,  I  told  the 
landlord  thati  wasa  Jew  by  birth,  but  that  I  had  come 
to  that  place  to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  \vas  resolved  to  embrace  it  in  case  I 
should  become  convinced  of  its  veracity.     On  hear- 
ing this  he  immediately  promised  me  every  assist- 
ance, and  the  next  day  he  went  with  me  to  a  cler- 
gyman, who  examined  me  respectmg  my  knowledge 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  my  motives  in  search- 
ing after  truth.    Finding  that  I  had  no  arguments 
to  produce  in  favor  of  the  Messiaship  of  Christ,  he 
suspected  my  motives  to  be  worldly.    He  did  not, 
however,  altogether  discourage  me,  but  went  with 
me  to  some  other  ministers,  and  stated  my  request 
to  the  magistrate,  before  whom  I  was  shortly  after 
summoned  to  appear,  where  I  was  strictly  examined, 
and  my  testimonials  were  approved  ;  but  I  was  told 
that  there  had  been  many  Jews  who  had  embraced 
Christianity  only  for  secular  advantages,  and  lived 
afterwards  as  heathens,  which  made  them  very  cau- 
tious of  receiving  any  before  they  were  thoroughly 
convinced  of  their  sincerity. 


FREV  S    NARRATIVE,  23 

In  ortler  to  convince  them  that  I  sought  nothing 
but  the  truth,  I  promised  not  to  receive  the  least 
emokiment  from  -duy  Christian  ;  but  that  I  was 
Vviliing  to  learn  any  trade  to  obtain  my  daily  bread 
by  the  labor  of  my  own  hands.  A  few  weeks  after 
this  examination,  oflicial  application  having  been 
made  to  the  magistrate  in  my  native  place,  and 
satisfactory  answers  received,  I  was  informed  "that 
I  was  to  apply  to  the  ministers  in  the  three  neigh- 
boring towns,  and  if  none  of  them  were  willing  to 
instruct  me,  I  should  return,  and  they  would  take 
me  under  their  patronage." 

Accordingly  I  went  to  Wisman,  where  I  was 
kindly  and  affectionately  received  by  the  Kev.  Dr. 
Haupt,  who  recommended  me  to  a  shoemaker,  to 
wdiom  I  was  bound  apprentice  for  three  years.  In 
the  mean  time  I  went  twice  every  w^eek  to  the  mi- 
nister for  instruction,  and  spent  as  much  time  at 
home  as  I  could  spare  from  my  employment,  in  com- 
paring the  German  translation  with  the  Hebrew 
Bible,  and  in  reading  the  Now  Testament,  which  1 
had  never  seen  before.  By  comparing  the  predic- 
tions respecting  the  Messiah,  contained  in  the  Old 
Testament,  with  the  history  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
as  contained  in  the  New,  my  judgment  was  soon 
convinced  that  he  is  the  promised  Messiah;  and  con- 
sidering the  doctrine  and  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  I 
perceived  that  the  dispensation  of  the  Gospel  is  far 
more  glorious  than  the  Mosaic.  At  this  early  pe- 
riod of  my  Christian  pilgrimage  I  began  to  expe- 
rience the  truth  of  the  declaration  of  my  blessed  Re- 
deemer :  "  He  that  will  be  my  disciple  must  deny 
himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me."  The 
reader  may  possibly  expect  that  I  allude  to  persecu- 
tion from  my  Jewish  brethren ;  this  was  not  the  case, 
for  there  were  no  Jews  residing  in  that  city.  But 
what  is  more  strange,  many  who  called  themselves 


24 

Christians,  treated  me  as  a  hypocrite  and  deceiver. 
Not  unfrequently  I  was  told,  *'you  are  only  come 
among  us  for  what  you  can  get ;  as  soon  as  you  have 
made  your  fortune  you  doubtless  will  give  up  your 
profession  and  return  to  the  Jews."  These  things 
often  pierced  my  heart  sharper  than  a  two-edged 
sword,  especially  when  comparing  my  former  honor- 
able, comfortable,  and  promising  condition,  with  my 
present  low,  poor,  and  despised  situation  as  a  shoe- 
maker's apprentice.  For  I  vv^ould  observe  that,  in 
general,  an  apprentice  in  Germany  is  treated  very 
little  better  than  a  slave  in  this  country.  My  situ- 
ation was  attended  with  peculiar  difficulties.  My 
master's  wife  having  been  for  several  years  melan- 
choly, and  sometimes  altogether  deranged,  reduced 
him  into  low  circumstances,  and  I  soon  found  that 
no  plentiful  table  was  to  be  my  portion ;  and  my 
natural  pride  was  exceedingly  humbled  by  the  au- 
thority assumed  by  his  daughter,  who  was  not  four- 
teen years  of  age,  whereas  I  was  now  five-and- 
twenty,  and  having  spent  the  preceding  years  in  so 
respectable  a  situation  among  my  own  people,  with 
whom,  I  had  no  doubt,  if  I  had  then  gone  back  to 
them,  I  could  have  gained  one  equally  good.  These 
things  were  not  pleasant  to  the  flesh,  but  grievous ; 
however,  blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  enabled  me  to 
persevere,  and  who  prepared  me  to  bear  still  greater 
hardships  in  his  blessed  cause. 

At  the  expiration  of  one  year  and  a  half  my  mas- 
ter was  obliged  to  give  up  business ;  on  wdiich  account 
a  new  difficulty  arose  :  the  minister  would  not  bap- 
tize me  until  after  I  had  finished  my  apprenticeship 
with  another  master ;  and  the  trade,  or  society  of 
shoemakers,  would  not  allow  any  other  master  to 
employ  me  before  I  was  regularly  bound,  and  which 
could  not  be  done  till  after  my  baptism.  For  their  rule 
is,  that  no  apprentice  is  allowed  to  stay  more  than 


FRKY'S    NARRATIVE.  25 

three  months  with  a  master  without  having  his  name 
regularly  registered  iirthe  book  belonging  to  that 
trade ;  but  as  no  Jew  could  bo  bound  an  apprentice 
in  Germany,  my  name  could  not  be  registered  till 
after  I  was  baptized.  Thus  was  I  left  almost  with- 
out a  single  friend  in  a  strange  place. 

A.t  that  time  a  band  of  players  was  at  Wismar, 
and  in  order  to  gain  support  without  being  burden- 
some to  society,  I  transcribed  the  parts  which  they 
had  to  act  for  about  two  months.  The  master  of 
the  band  was  much  taken  with  me,  and  had  it  not 
been  for  the  slight  impediment  in  my  speech,  caused 
by  the  small-pox,  would  have  engaged  me  as  an 
actor.  Thanks  to  God,  who  in  his  abundant  mercy 
and  gracious  dealings  with  me,  a  poor  sinner,  broke 
this  snare  also. 

By  the  kind  orderings  of  Providence,  most  unex- 
pectedly I  became  acquainted  with  a  gentleman  by 
the  name  of  Matthias  Van  Gilben,  who  advised  me 
to  go  to  New-Brandenburg  in  Mecklenburg  Strelitz, 
to  a  minister,  an  intimate  friend  of  his,  and  offered 
to  give  me  a  letter  of  introduction.  I  therefore  took 
leave  of  J)r.  Haupt,  wlio  gave  me  testimonials  of  my 
character,  and  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  minister 
at  New-Brandenburg :  and  in  my  way  thither,  in 
every  town  where  I  came,  I  called  on  the  ministers, 
who  all  severally  wished  me  well,  and  success  in  my 
undertaking  ;  but  none  was  willing  to  give  me  the 
necessary  assistance.  How  iew,  alas  !  are  those  who 
really  seek  the  salvation  of  Israel  !  On  arriving  at 
the  place  of  my  destination,  I  called  on  the  Lutheran 
minister,  Mr.  Cortum,  presented  my  letter  and  pa- 
pers, w  ho  received  me  kindly,  and  gave  me  effectual 
assistance.  Here  I  was  again  bound  to  a  shoe- 
maker for  another  year  and  a  half,  and  went,  as 
forinerly,  twice  every  week  to  the  minister  for  reli- 
gious instruction. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1799, 1  was  publicly  baptized, 
3 


•2(j  frey's  narrative^ 

or,  more  correctly  speakings  sprinkled,  and  received 
as  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Lutheran  Church. 
It  has  always  been  the  custom,  that,  at  the  baptism 
of  a  Jew,  some  respectable  persons  should  stand 
god-fathers,  who  make  him  n^.any  presents ;  but  I 
refused  to  receive  any,  or  any  kind  of  presents,  a? 
another  proof  that  I  did  not  embrace  Christianity 
for  the  sake  of  worldly  gain.  It  is  also  an  ancient 
practice  in  Germany,  lor  a  converted  Jew  to  receive 
new  names  at  his  baptism  ;  therefore,  upon  this  oc- 
casion, the  minister  gave  me  three  additional  nameS; 
viz.  Christian  Frederick  Frey.  The  first  expres- 
sive of  the  religion  I  embraced  ;  the  second,  which 
signifies  ritJi  ire,  peace,  to  express  his  good  wishes  ;. 
and  the  last,  as  my  surname,  to  remind  me  of  the  text 
which  he  preached  on  the  occasion,  viz.  John,  8  : 
32,  36.  "  And  ye  shall  know  the  truth,  andthe  truth 
shall  make  you  free.''  "  If  the  Son  therefore  shall 
make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed.'*  Free,  in 
English,  signifies  the  same  as  Fre?/  in  the  German 
language,  but  is  pronounced  Fri/,  and  should  be  prc- 
nounced  in  the  English  the  same  as  the  pronoun 
the?/  ;  but  most  of  the  people,  v/hile  I  was  in  Eng- 
land, attemling  more  to  the  origin  and  signijicativn 
than  to  the  spelling  of  my  name,  pronounced  it 
generally  as  if  written  free  ;  and  I  myself  got  into 
the  habit  of  doing  the  same. 

A  few  months  after  my  baptism,  my  apprentice- 
ship having  expired,  I  was  made  a  journeyman, 
which  is  considered  a  great  and  important  ceremo- 
ny, and  was  now  at  liberty  to  travel  as  a  journey- 
man. It  was  therefore  my  intention  to  accompany 
a  journeyman  of  the  same  occupation  to  Rostock, 
where  I  had  first  expressed  my  wish  of  embracing 
Christianity.  But  God,  in  his  gracious .  design, 
had  appointed  another  place  for  me,  where  I  shouhl 
be  led  to  a  fuller  discovery  of  the  trut^li  as  it  is  in 
Christ  Jesus,  as  will  be  related  in  the  next  chapter. 


i-t<ey's  narrative.  27 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CIRCUMSTANCES   WHICH    LED    HIM    TO   A    FAllTIIER 
ACQUAINTANCE    WITH    DIVINE    TRUTH. 

Two  days  before  the  time  en  which  we  proposed 
to  leave  for  Rostock,  my  companion  wounded  his 
-hand  in  such  a  manner  that  ho  was  obliged  to  give 
up  all  thoughts  of  the  journey.  But  as  I  iiad  given 
notice  to  my  master  of  my  intention  to  leave  him,  I 
did  not  choose  to  remain  any  longer,  and  therefore 
removed  to  the  next  town,  which  was  Prentzlow,  in 
Prussia,  where  i  arrived  on  the  24th  of  December. 
The  weather  was  exceedingly  cold,  and  there  were 
a  considerable  number  of  journeymen,  but  little 
work.  However,  I  not  only  got  employment,  but  was 
settled  in  one  of  tfie  best  situations  in  the  place. 
Thus,  although  but  lately  out  of  my  apprenticeship, 
the  Lord  gave  me  success,  and  greatly  blessed  the 
^.vovk  of  my  hand.  *'  Surely  goodness  and  mercy 
have  followed  me  all  the  days  of  my  life."  O 
that  I  could  praise  God  for  his  loving  kindness  and 
tender  mercies! 

In  this  situation  I  met  v,ith  ^o  much  envy  and  ill 
\vill  from  my  fellow-journeymen,  that  I  thought  best 
to  change  it  for  another,  not  so  good  in  point  of 
wages,  and  much  more  laborious  ;  but  it  proved  more 
profitable  to  the  welfare  of  my  soul ;  for  here  I  first 
learned  to  bow  my  heart  as  well  as  my  knees  before 
Jehovah,  and  prayed,  for  the  first  time,  "in  spirit 
and  in  truth."  The  circumstance  which  led  to  this, 
is  in  itself  but  of  a  trifling  nature  ;  but  when  I  look 
back  and  consider  its  effects,  I  am  constrained  to 
acknovyledgc  and  adore  the  hand  of  God  my  Savior. 
From  my  childhood  I  have  been  taught  to  mark  the 
•  ays  of  God,  and  in  doing  so  found  much  pleasure  ; 


28 

and  now,  since  I  profess  to  know  more  of  that  God, 
who  alone  orders  all  things  according  to  his  own  will, 
my  delight  is  still  greater  in  reviewing  the  ways  iu 
which  he  has  so  graciously  led  me  for  more  than 
forty  years,  even  to  the  present  hour.  A  few  weeks 
before  Easter,  Mr.  Mat.  Van  Gilben,  the  gentleman 
who  so  effectually  recommended  me  to  the  minister 
at  New-Brandenburg,  paid  me  a  visit,  and  made  me 
a  present,  saying,  "  Buy  yourself  an  apron  with  this 
money,  and  wear  it  in  remembrance  of  your  friend 
till  I  sec  you  again."  Accordingly,  I  went  with  his 
own  son  to  a  tanner  of  the  name  of  Michaelis.  TJiis 
was  the  rnan  whom  the  Lord  designed  to  bless  to 
my  soul.  For,  as  I  observed  afterwards,  that  we  had 
passed  by,  unnoticed,  several  tanners  in  the  way  to 
his  house.  Oh  !  my  soul,  ever  commit  thy  ways 
unto  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  direct  thy  steps.  When 
Mr.  M.  presented  the  apron,  and  mentioned  the 
price,  I  said,  "  Is  not  that  too  much  ?  for  T  ought  to 
know  the  value  of  these  things."  "  How  came  you 
to  know  it  ?"  asked  he.  I  answered,  "  When  I  was 
a  3e\Y,  and  officiated  as  Rabbi,  and  killed  their  ani- 
mals, I  frequently  saw  them  selling  skins."  "  So," 
replied  Michaelis,  '*  and  what  are  you  now?  a 
Christian?"  "  Yes,"  said  I,  with  the  greatest  con- 
lulcncc.  He  inquired  further,  "  In  what  manner 
do  you  live  ?"  This  was  indeed  a  strange  ques- 
tion ;  for  I  had  never  heard,  mucli  less  perceived, 
that  there  were  any  different  modes  of  living,  or 
conversation,  amongst  Christians.  "  I  live,"  said  I, 
'*  as  all  the  shoem;ikcrs'  journeymen  live,  and  every 
Sunday  I  go  to  church  ;  and  after  service,  you  know, 
we  cannot  be  at  hoine  at  the  n^astcr's  house,  where 
we  lodge  and  board  during  the  week  ;  I  must  there- 
fore go  to  the  tavern,  i.  e.  the  house  of  call,  where 
I  spend  the  remainder  of  the  Sabbath,  and  usually 
continue  til!  Monday,  playing  at  cards,  and  some- 


20 

times  dancing  ;  the  rest  of  the  week  I  am  diligent 
at  work."  *'  I  am  sorry,"  replied  Michaelis  :  "  as  you 
profess  to  he  a  Christian,  you  ought  to  manifest  it 
in  a  different  manner,"  To  which  I  answered,  *'  I 
have  iio  friends  or  acquaintance  here,  and  therefore 
must  go  to  the  house  of  call ;  and^  being  amongsl;  the 
other  journeymen,  I  must  join  in  their  manner  of 
life,  else  1  shall  be  laughed  at  and  ridiculed  by  them 
all."  Michaelis  then  said,  with  great  kindness,  "  You 
may  come  to-morrow  afternoon,  at  five  o'clock,  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Thorinan,  where  several  friends 
meet;  you  will  become  acquainted  with  them,  and 
have  an  opportunity  of  spending  your  time  on  the 
Sabbath  at  their  houses."  Michaelis  at  the  same 
time  made  me  a  j)resent  of  the  Narrative  of  Solo- 
mon Duitch,  a  converted  Jew,  Vviiich  has  been  of 
great  use  to  me  in  confirming  my  fiiitb  in  the  Chris- 
tian religion. 

Follov/ing  tlie  bent  of  natural  curiosity  and  fond- 
fiess  of  society,  I  promised  to  go  there  the  next 
lay.  This  conversation  took  place  on  a  Saturday. 
;)n  my  return  home  I  inquired  of  my  master's  wife 
v/hether  she  knew  a  Mr.  Thormao,  at  whose  house 
some  friends  met  every  Lord's  day.  She  could  not 
speak  evil  of  them,  yet  was  unwilling  to  speak  well, 
therefore  she  only  said,  *'  It  is  a  society  o^  '■  praying 
brethrenJ'  "  May  the  Lord  increase  and  multiply 
their  number.  Early  on  the  following  morning,  the 
appointed  day  in  which  God  had  designed  njost  gra- 
ciously to  strip  me  of  my  own  self-righteousness,  to 
clothe  me  with  the  righteousness  of  his  dear  Son, 
and  to  adorn  me  with  the  garment  of  salvation,  I 
felt  my  mind  so  uneasy  that  I  could  not  remain  in 
bed.  I  arose,  but  the  family  being  all  asleep,  1 
knew  not  what  to  do.  In  the  meantime  I  heard 
the  sound  of  an  organ  proceeding  from  the  churcli 
near  the  place  of  mv  abode.     I  immediately  went 

3# 


M)  FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 

ihiiher,  but  knew  not  why.  The  Rev.  Mr.  WolTo 
was,  Oil  that  morning,  confirming  a  great  number  of 
chihh'en,  being  Palm  Sundaiji  the  Sabbath  before 
Easter.  At  the  concki.sion  of  the  ceremony  bead- 
dressed  them  and  said,  "  My  dear  children,  I  am 
afraid  tliat  some  of  you  will  soon  return  again  into 
the  broad  roal  which  leadeth  to  dcstriictionj  but  my 
prayer  unto  God  for  you  is,  tliat  you  might  be  saved. 
I  would  therefore  recommend  to  you  the  following 
passage  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  '  My  heart  shall 
not  reproach  me  as  long  us  I  live.'*  .Tob,  27  :  6. 
Now,  my  dear  children,''  said  he,  with  great  affec- 
tion, ''  consider  these  words  at  the  close  of  every 
day,  and  examine  \vhethcr  yor.r  conscience  does  not 
accuse  you  for  the  day  past ;  and  if  it  does,  be  sure 
to  kneel  down  and  pray  for  the  fovgivcjicss  of  your 
sins  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  Savior." 

My  dear  reader,  I  must  here  be  permitted  to 
pause,  for  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  say  wliat  were 
the  feelings  of  my  heart  on  hearing  these  words.  I 
found  them  "  sharper  than  a  two-edged  suord," 
Heb.  4:  12,  and  "stronger  than  a  hammer  which 
breaketh  the  rocks  in  pieces,"  Jer.  23  :  29  ;  my 
conscience  accused  me  of  crimes  innumerable,  and, 
alas!  "a  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear?"  I  nov/ 
firmly  believed  that  I  had  not  only  broken  the  double 
covenant  as  a  Jew,  v;hich  was  first  made  with  God 
by  my  parents  at  my  circumcision,  and,  secondly, 
by  myself,  when  1  was  thirteen  years  old  ;  but  also 
that  covenant  with  God  in  Christ,  which  1  had 
rashly  made  when  I  was  baptized  and  joined  to  tlic 
Christian  church. 


*  Or,  as  he  rc])eate(l  it  liom  the  Gerniari  Bible,  '^  my  con- 
science does  not  reprovo  \\\c  for  the  whole  of  my  life."  Com- 
pare with  this,  Act?,  5:24:  16:  '-Herein  do  I  exercise  m3''pel/j  to 
have  aiwayr^  a  con>'cience  void  ofoHence  towards  God  and  to- 
wards men." 


r.REY  S    NARRATIVE.  31 

it  now  pleased  the  Lord  to  teach  me  something 
of  the  sj)irituality  of  the  law.  I  not  only  found  myself 
guilty  of  very  many  sinful  actions  and  words  in  my 
past  life,  but  I  was  also  convinced  that  '*  every  ima- 
gination of  the  thoughts  of  my  heart  were  only  evil 
continually,"  Gen.  G  :  5.  r*line  eyes,  which  were  for- 
merly full  of  lusts,  w^ere  now  overflowing  with  floods 
of  tears  ;  the  very  ground  beneath  my  feet  seemed 
ready  to  open  itself  and  swallow  me  up,  like  Korah 
and  his  company.  I  thought  that  the  eyes  of  God, 
and  of  the  congregation,  were  fixed  upon  me  with 
the  greatest  abhorrence  and  disgust.  I  left  the 
place,  and  entered,  for  the  first  time,  into  the  closet, 
and  shut  the  door  behind  me,  that  I  might  pray  in 
secret  to  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  But,  alas  ! 
I  knew  not  how  to  pray,  nor  had  I  confidence  to 
draw  nigh  to  that  God  whom  I  had  so  often  and  so 
greatly  oflended.  Several  passages  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  especially  these  words,  "  Enter  not  into 
judgment  with  thy  servant;  for  in  thy  sight  shall 
no  man  living  be  justified,"  Psalm  143  :  2,  I  re- 
peated again  and  again,  but  found  no  comfort. 

From  personal  experience,  my  dear  reader,  I  can 
say  tliat  there  is  nothing  easier  than  for  a  natural 
nuin  to  think  that  God  will  pardon  his  sins  for  some 
imaginary  reason  or  other  ;  and  nothing  more  diffi- 
cult for  a  truly  avv'akened  sinner  to  believe  that  God 
can  pardon  his  sins,  and  yet  be  a  holy,  just,  and  true 
God.  It  is  not  in  the  nature  of  any  means,  although 
it  be  our  bounden  duty  to  use  them  diligently,  either 
to  convince  the  natural  man  that  he  is  a  guilty,  de- 
filed, and  helpless  sinner,  nor  to  persuade  the  con- 
vinced sinner  that  the  Almighty  can  be  a  righteous 
God,  and  at  the  same  time  the  justiner  of  liim  that 
believeth  in  Jesup.  Bcik  effects  it  is  the  office  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  produce,  who  maketh  the  means, 
graciously  appointed  by  God,  and  diligently  used  by 


32  PREY'S    NARRATIVE. 

man,  effectual  to  the  salvation  of  the  souL  *'  tie 
who  convinces  the  mind  of  sin,  of  righteousness, 
and  of  judgment,"  must  also  "  take  of  the  things  of 
Jesus,  and  show  them  to  the  heart  of  the  mourning 
sinner."    John,  16  :  8. 

Having  described  the  circumstances  \^hich  God 
made  to  operate  in  overwhelming  n)y  heart  with 
godly  sorrow,  I  proceed  to  mention  the  manner  in 
which  the  Lord  Jesus  gave  rest  to  my  soul. 

The  reader  will  recollect  the  conversation  which 
took  place  between  Mr.  Pdichaclis  and  myself  on  the 
preceding  day,  and  his  invitation  to  me,  to  be  at  five 
o'clock  at  Mr.  Thorman's.  At  that  time  I  had  re- 
solved to  go  out  of  curiosity,  but  now  1  was  like  a 
new-born  babe,  desiring  the  sincere  milk  of  the 
word,  that  I  might  grov/  thereby,  1  Pet.  3  :  2. 
Never  was  a  day  so  long  as  this  seemed  to  be.  At 
length  the  much-vvished-for  hour  aj)proached,  and  I 
joyfully  hastened  to  meet  the  Christian  Society  ;  but 
when  I  reached  the  house,  the  thunder  and  light- 
nings of  Mount  Sinai  terrified  my  mind  afresh,  and 
my  sins  filled  my  face  with  shame;  all  my  natural 
boldness  was  gone,  and  I  felt  myself  utterly  unwortiiy 
of  going  among  the  dear  friends  assembled  together ; 
like  one  of  old,  mine  eyes  were  fixed  to  the  ground, 
and  the  language  of  my  heart  was,  ''God  be  mer- 
ciful to  me  a  sinner,"  Luke,  18  :  J  3.  However,  to 
fulfill  my  promise,  I  entered  in.  As  soon  as  Mr. 
Michaelis  saw  me,  he  got  up,  took  me  by  the  hand, 
and  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Thorman  as  a  convert 
from  Judaism.  Mr.  Thorman,  who  had  been  for 
nearly  sixty  years  an  exjierienced,  useful,  and  faith- 
ful soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  received  me  with  fcJie 
greatest  afl^ection,  sympathy,  and  o#fn passion  ;  and 
from  that  very  moment  to  the  day  I  left  that  place, 
I  esteemed,  reverenced,  and  trusted  him  as  a  man 
of  God. 

Amongst  other  questions,  lie  asked  whether  the 


33 

ministers  who  had  instructed  me  for  three  years, 
prayed  with  me  on  their  knees.  I  am  sorry  to  say 
that  my  answer,  dictated  by  truth,  was  a  negative. 

The  service  now  began  with  singing,  then  fol- 
lowed a  short  prayer,  and  after  that  he  read  a  ser- 
mon on  Isa.  53  :  5,  *'  He  was  wounded,"  &c.  Jesus 
Christ  was  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  discourse, 
from  which  I  received  much  comfort;  then  we  all 
kneeled  down,  and  he  prayed.  More  than  twenty 
minutes  were  spent  in  prayer  for  me,  thanking  God 
for  calhng  me  out  of  darkness,  and  more  particu- 
larly that  it  would  please  the  Lord  to  make  mc 
useful  and  faithful. 

After  the  service  was  concluded,  Mr.  Thorman 
invited  me  to  visit  him  the  next  day.  I  now  longed 
to  retire  to  my  closet.  On  my  return  to  my  master's 
house,  all  were  surprised,  for  it  was  quite  a  new 
thing  to  see  me  on  a  Sunday  evening,  and  seldom 
on  a  Monday.  I  told  them  I  had  been  at  Mr.  Thor- 
man's,  and  wished  rather  to  be  by  myself  than  to  go 
to  the  house  of  call.  I  asked  my  master  if  Mr.  Thor- 
man had  studied.  "No,"  was  his  reply.  "But 
ho\v  is  it  possible,"  said  I,  "that  a  man  could  pray 
so  long  without  a  book,  particularly  for  me,  w'ithout 
even  knov/iogof  my  coming  to  him  ?  and  consequent- 
ly he  could  not  have  studied  the  prayer."  "  That  is 
no  wonder,"  said  one  of  the  family  ;  "these  people 
j)ray  always."  ImiTjediately  I  went  into  my  closet, 
fcH  upon  my  knees,  and  cried,  '-Lord,  teach  mc 
thus  to  ])ray  !" 

After  two  hours'  sweet  meditatiois,  I  laid  myself 
down,  and  slept  under  the  shadow  of  the  Pilost  High. 
Farly  on  Monday  morning  I  arose  with  an  eager 
desire  to  read  tlie  Bible  ;  on  opening  the  sacred 
volume  my  eye  was  fixed  on  the  1st  Tim.  1  :  15, 
"Th.is  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  accep- 
tation, thai  Ciirist  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 


!4 


FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 


sinners;  of  whom  I  am  chief.''  Having  been  used, 
as  a  Jewish  teacher,  to  catechize  children,  I  put  tho 
same  questions  to  mj^  own  soul  as  I  would  have  done 
to  a  child  in  the  school :  Who  is  the  j)crson  spoken 
of?  was  my  first  inquIr3^  A.  Christ  Jesus.  What 
did  he  come  into  the  world  for,  and  where  did  he 
come  from  ?  A.  From  some  place  that  is  not  in  this 
world — from  heaven.  Why  did  he  come  into  the 
world  ?  A.  To  save  sinners.  What  kind  of  sinners? 
A.  Sinners  that  are  in  this  world,  and  great  sin- 
ners too.  » 

Whilst  thus  musing  with  myself,  I  was  enabled  to 
conclude  and  believe,  that  though  I  saw  myself  the 
chief  of  sinners,  yet  Christ  was  able  to  save  me; 
for  he  saved  Paul,  who  called  himself  the  chief  of 
sinners.  From  that  moment  I  was  led  to  rejoice 
in  the  salvation  of  God  my  Savior,  and  felt  the  love 
of  God  shed  abroad  in  my  heart,  which  constrained 
me  to  vow  an  eternal  hatred  against  every  sin,  and 
to  devote  myself  to  the  service  of  him  who  lived 
and  died  for  sinners.  Never  did  I  Dnjoy  an  hour 
like  that  morninsr.  I  "enerallv  breakfasted  on  Mon~ 
day  at  the  house  of  call,  having  spent  the  night  there, 
as  1  observed  before  ;  but  now  I  went  to  my  employ- 
ment with  pleasure,  and  with  renewed  strength. 

My  master  and  his  family  were  surprised  to  see 
me  at  work  on  a  Monday,  and  could  by  no  means 
account  for  the  sudden  change,  not  J^nowing  that 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  teaches  a  man  to  be  diligent  in 
business  and  fervent  in  spirit.  In  the  afternoon 
two  journeymen  came  to  know  why  I  had  not  been 
at  the  house  of  call  on  the  preceding  day.  Being 
told  that  I  had  been  with  Mr.  'I'horman,  and  that  i 
was  now  hard  at  work,  singing  psalms  and  making 
melody  in  my  heart,  they  were  astonished  at  my 
conduct,  and  endeavored  to  persuade  me  to  go  with 
them  to  our  former  scene  of  dissipation.    I  received 


them  affcctioiifitcly,  and  assured  them  of  the  un- 
speakable happiness  I  now  felt  in  my  soul,  and  that 
i  had  promised  to  go  again  in  the  evening  to  Mr. 
rhorman's.  Finding  that  they  could  not  prevail 
on  me  by  kindness,  they  began  to  ridicule  the  society 
of  Christiana  with  whom  I  had  just  formed  an  ac- 
quaintance, expressed  their  sorrow  for  the  unhappy 
change,  which,  as  they  thought,  I  had  experienced, 
and  left  me  in  tlie  liopc  that  God  would  deliver  mo 
from  the  dangerous  sect  of  praying  brethre'ii.  O 
Lord,  evermore  grant  me  the  spirit  of  grace  and 
supplication,  that  I  may  pray  without  ceasing. 

In  the  evening  I  called  upon  my  dear  friend  Tlior- 
man ;  after  some  conversation,  he  took  me  into  his 
closet,  where  wc  kneeled  down  together  ;  he  began 
to  read  the  first  chapter  in  the  Gospel  by  St.  John, 
and  changed  it,  verse  by  verse,  into  a  prayer,  intro- 
ducing at  the  same  time  parallel  passages  from  the 
Old  Testament,  to  illustrate  and  confirm  the  truth 
which  he  had  read  from  the  Gospel,  and  earnestly 
begging  for  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  bless 
it  to  our  souls.  This  inestimable  privilege  I  enjoyed 
almost  every  day,  especially  on  the  Sabbath,  as  long 
as  I  continued  at  Prentzlow.  Mr.  Tiioriiian  would 
also  frequently  read  tlie  periodical  publications  of 
the  Basil  Society,  and  other  letters  relative  to  the 
diiiusion  of  the  Gospel  among  Christians,  ani  espe- 
cially the  exertions  of  Christian.s  in  England  to  send 
the  word  of  salvation  to  the  heathen.  Very  often 
he  would  break  forth  with  a  deep  sigh,  and  exclaim, 
"  O  that  I  was  again  a  young  man  like  yourself, 
I  would  immediately  go  as  a  missionary."  I  do  not 
recollect  that  he  ever  spoke  to  me  directly  about 
ofiering  myself  as  a  missionary,  nor  did  I  then  feel 
the  least  inclination  to  go,  even  if  I  had  been  asked. 
However,  his   labor  of  love   and  prayer  of  faith 


36  FREY  S    NARRATIVS. 

have  not  been  in  vain,  as  it  will  bo  seen  in  the  noxt 
chapter. 

I  had  no  sooner  tasted  of  the  grace  of  God,  than 
I  was  desirous  to  invite  others  to  come  to  the  full- 
ness of  grace  and  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus.  With 
pleasure  I  embraced  every  leisure  moment  to  visit 
the  sick,  aiid  twice  every  w^eek  I  went  to  the  poor- 
house.  Here  I  had  the  first  opportunity  of  speaking 
of  the  love  which  my  dear  Redeemer  bears  to  sin- 
ners in  general,  and  whicii  he  has  manifested  to  me 
in  particular. 

The  effect  which  the  change  of  my  disposition 
had  upon  my  master  deserves  the  attention  of  the 
reader.  Before  my  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Thor- 
man  and  his  friends,  I  spent,  generally,  one  or  two 
days  in  a  week  in  idleness,  and  took  care  to  work  no 
more  than  just  enough  for  my  support.  My  master, 
therefore,  treated  me  with  the  greatest  kindness,  in' 
order  to  keep  me  diligently  at  work ;  but  from  the 
time  when  I  began  to  labor  hard  and  faithfully  on 
Mondays,  as  well  as  other  days  in  the  week,  so  as  to 
earn  nearly  twice  as  much  wages  as  before,  he  not 
only  looked  coolly  upon  me,  but  very  soon  dismissed 
me  from  his  employment,  without  being  able  to 
assign  a  single  reason  for  his  conduct.  O  the  en- 
mity of  the  carnal  mind  !  But  blessed  be  the  Lord, 
who  often  overrules  the  bad  conduct  of  man  to  ac- 
complish his  own  gracious  purposes. 

It  is  a  custom  in  Germany  for  masters  and  jour- 
neymen to  dissolve  their  connection  at  Midsummer 
and  (yhristmas  only  ;  but  my  ma^-ter  having  dis- 
missed me  about  two  weeks  before  Midsummer,  1 
could  not  expect  to  meet  with  another  until  that 
day  arrived.  I  went  to  Mr.  Thorman,  and  told 
him  that  I  intended  to  leave  Prentzlow,  as  I  could 
not  bear  the  idea  of  spending  my  time  till  Mid- 
summer-day in  idleness.     Mr.  Tliorman  informed 


37 

me  that  a  friend  of  his,  Mr,  Boettcher,  was  going- 
to  Berlin,  who  would  no  doubt  procure  a  master 
for  me.  He  gave  me,  also,  a  letter  of  recommen- 
dation to  Mr.  Burgett,  a  shoemaker  at  Berlin.  On 
the  20th  of  June,  1799,  I  took  an  affectionate  leave 
of  my  dear  friend  Thorman.  Never  was  any  thing 
more  painful  to  me  than  parting  with  this  man ; 
nor  liave  I  scarcely  ever  met  with  one  altogether 
like  him.  It  would  be  unsuitable,  nor  do  I  think  it 
necessary,  to  detain  the  reader  by  a  particular  ac- 
count of  this  excellent  disciple  of  Christ.  But  as 
his  praise  is  in  all  the  churches  in  Germany,  it  may 
not  be  improper  to  insert  at  least  the  following  letter 
of  his,  which  was  given  to  me  by  Mr.  Boettcher,  on 
the  first  day  of  our  journey  to  Berlin. 

"  Dear  Frey, 

"  You  are  now  going  to  Berlin.  It  is  possible  we 
shall  not  see  one  another  again  in  this  life.  Remem- 
ber what  you  have  seen  and  heard  in  this  place,  and 
follow  the  instructions  which  you  have  received. 
Read  diligently  the  word  of  God,  and  pray,  at  the 
same  time,  that  your  understanding  may  be  more 
and  more  enlightened  to  see,  and  that  you  may 
feel  more  of  the  deceitfulness  of  your  own  heart. 
For  in  your  heart  (as  Bunyan  observes)  are  seven 
abominations,  which  you  must  see  every  day,  as 
long  as  you  live,  and  which  must  constantly  drive 
you  to  Jesus  your  Savior. 

*'  The  seven  abominations  are  these  : 

*'  1.  Inclination  to  unbelief. 

"  2.  Forgetfulness  of  the  love  and  mercy  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

**  3.  Trust  and  confidence  in  your  own  works. 

*'  4.  Wandering  thoughts,  and  coldness  in  prayer. 

*'  5.  Neglect  of  watchfulness  after  pcayer. 
4 


38  frey's  narrative. 

"  6.  Prone  to  murmur  against  God  and  man. 
"  7.  You   can   do   nothing  that   God    has    com- 
manded you,  without  mixing  with  it  self-will,  self- 
love,  pride,  positiveness,  ambition,  &c. 

*'  When  you  would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with 
you.  Now,  when  you  feel  this,  you  must  flee,  by 
prayer  and  supplication,  to  Jesus  the  crucified,  as  a 
poor,  miserable,  and  helpless  sinner,  that  his  atoning 
blood  may  cleanse  you  from  these  abojninations, 
and  that  his  Holy  Spirit  may  change  your  heart, 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  you.  If  you  do  not 
this  every  day,  truly,  uprightly,  and  diligently,  you 
will  be  lost  at  last,  notwithstanding  you  have  been 
baptized  as  a  Christian,  and  received  the  Lord's 
Supper  frequently." 

To  be  thus  characterized,  and  to  be  directed  to 
such  a  remedy,  was  a  hard  lesson  for  iiesh  and 
blood.  But,  through  grace,  I  have  learned  to  be- 
lieve that  these  seven  abominations  are  but  a  part 
of  that  world  of  iniquity  within  me,  and  that  I  am 
daily  indebted  to  the  grace  of  God,  by  which  I  am 
restrained  from  sin,  and  kept  in  the  path  of  right- 
eousness, holiness,  and  peace. 

Mr.  Thorman  proceeds  in  his  letter  : 
*'  You  must  likewise  pray  for  wisdom  and  under- 
standing, to  learn  your  trade  thoroughly.  Be  dili- 
gent and  faithful  in  your  employment  ;  remember, 
you  work  not  only  for  men,  but  you  have  a  Master 
in  heaven,  even  Jesus  Christ.  If  you  feel  your  work 
to  be  hard,  consider  that  the  Lord  Jegus  Christ  has 
sweetened  it,  having  himself  labored  (as  is  most 
probable)  as  a  carpenter  till  he  was  thirty  years  of 
age.  If  you  do  this,  even  the  ungodly  master  will 
esteem  you  ;  and  none  will  hinder  you  in  your  de- 
votion or  prayer,  if  performed  in  its  season.  Happy 
will  you  be,  if  you  follow  my  advice;  but  miserable 


39 

will  yon  be,  if  you  despise  my  counsel.     The  Lord 
be  your  guide.     Amen. 

*'  I  am  your  sincere  friend, 

"  J.  F.  Thorman. 

'•  Prentzlow,  June  20,  1799," 

Saturday,  June  22d,  on  my  arrival  at  Berlin  I 
went  to  the  house  of  call.  On  my  inquiry  after  Mr. 
Burnett,  I  was  told  that  he  was  a  dangerous  and 
infectious  person — one  of  the  praying  brethren  ; 
and  that  he  scarcely  ever  visited  the  house  of  call. 
However,  I  soon  found  him,  and  was  received  in  a 
most  affectionate  manner.  He  recommended  me 
to  a  pious  young  man  to  lodge  with,  from  whom  I 
derived  many  spiritual  benefits. 

The  next  day  being  the  Lord's  day,  T  went  in 
the  morning,  with  Mr.  Burgett,  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Woldersturff,  a  venerable  aged  minister  of  the 
Gospel.  By  this  valiant  soldier  of  Christ  I  was  pri- 
vately instructed  how  to  put  on  the  whole  armor  of 
God.  In  the  afternoon  I  called  upon  a  friend,  to 
whom  I  had  a  letter  of  recommendation. 

This  gentleman  took  me  in  the  evening  to  a  Mo- 
ravian chapel,  or  congregation  of  United  Brethren, 
when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cunow  preached  from  Luke,  5  : 
8,  *'  When  Simon  Peter  saw  it,  he  fell  down  at 
Jesus'  knees,  saying,  Depart  from  me,  for  I  am  a 
sinful  man,  O  Lord." 

The  simplicity  of  the  place  of  worship,  the  regu- 
larity and  order  of  the  congregation,  the  subject  of 
discourse,  and  the  manner  in  w  hich  it  was  delivered, 
made  a  lasting  impression  upon  my  mind.  Ever  after 
I  attended  the  public  meetings  of  this  Christian 
Society,  and  very  soon  obtained  liberty  to  attend 
their  private  meetings  on  Wednesday  and  Friday 
evenings.  I  was  just  at  the  point  of  being  received 
as  a  member  of  this  highly  respected  community, 
when  I  was  prevented  by  joining  the  Missionary 


40 

Seminary.  But,  although  I  did  not  actually  become 
a  member,  yet  my  attachment  to  them  has  never 
been  diminished.  My  heart  has  ever  rejoiced  to 
meet  with  one  of  these  plain  and  humble  followers 
of  the  Lamb. 

It  was  among  these  Christians  I  heard  of  the 
love  of  Jesus  in  every  sermon,  and  saw  him,  as  it 
were,  crucified  before  my  eyes.  It  is  true,  I  have 
since  seen  the  impropriety  of  preaching  noiking  but 
the  love  of  Christ,  as  manifested  in  his  sufferings, 
yet  I  still  agree  with  them,  that  Jesus  Christ  ought 
to  be  the  sum  and  substance  of  every  discourse.  A  ser- 
mon without  Christ,  is  like  a  body  without  a  soul. 

I  was  but  a  few  days  at  Berlin  when  I  obtained 
employment  from  a  master  who  feared  God  and  re- 
garded men,  at  whose  house  I  remained  till  I  entered 
the  Missionary  Seminary.  The  circumstances  which 
led  to  this  change  in  my  life  are  as  follows  : 

CHAPTER   V. 

ENTRANCE    INTO    THE    MISSIONARY    SEMINARY    AT 
BERLIN. 

The  reader  will  not  be  surprised  to  find  that 
the  trade  which  I  learned  was  almost  beyond  my 
strength,  if  he  considers  but  for  a  moment  the  man- 
ner in  which  I  was  educated,  and  the  way  in  which 
I  employed  myself  among  my  own  nation.  My 
health  was  much  impaired,  and  frequently  I  foimd 
such  pain  in  my  breast  as  not  to  be  able  to  work. 
My  master,  who  often  sympathized  with  me  under 
my  afflictions,  one  day  proposed  to  procure  my  ad- 
mission into  a  free-school,  where  persons  are  edu- 
cated to  be  school-masters.  Nothing  could  have 
been  proposed  more  suitable  to  my  education,  for- 


rHEY'S    NARRATIVE.  41 

met  employment,  and  natural  inclination,  than  this; 
I  therefore  approved  of  the  plan,  and  thanked  my 
master  for  the  kind  interest  he  took  in  my  welfare. 
But,  O  how  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  the  Lord ! 
One  evening,  at  my  devotional  hour,  when  reading 
the  sacred  Scriptures,  I  was  forcibly  struck  with  the 
following  words  :  "  Then  said  Jesus  unto  his  disci- 
ples. If  any  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  him- 
self, and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me.  For 
whosoever  will  save  his  life,  shall  lose  it :  and  who- 
soever will  lose  his  life  for  my  sake,  shall  find  it.  For 
what  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole 
world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  or  what  shall  a  man 
give  in  exchange  for  his  soul  ?"  Matt.  16  :  24-26. 
Whilst  meditating  upon  these  words,  my  mind  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  danger  of  entering  this 
school,  where  true  religion  was  but  little  known  ; 
and  I  reflected  that  although  this  situation  might 
greatly  improve  my  bodily  health  and  temporal  cir- 
cumstances, yet  it  was  very  likefy  to  lead  to  the  ruin 
of  my  soul.  After  much  prayer  to  God  for  direc- 
tion, I  resolved  to  continue  in  my  employment  till 
Divine  Providence  should  point  out  a  situation  preg- 
nant with  less  danger  to  my  eternal  welfare. 

On  the  same  night  I  had  a  most  remarkable 
dream,  the  substance  of  which  is  briefly  as  follows: 
it  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  saw  my  dear  Redeemer 
standing  before  my  bed,  and  could  hear  him  dis- 
tinctly saying,  "  Fear  not,  you  shall  be  a  physician 
io  heal  many  of  their  diseases."  I  replied,  "By 
what  means  shall  I  become  a  physician,  who  am  a 
stranger  in  the  land  ?"  The  answer  to  this  was, 
"  You  have  many  friends  in  this  place."  With  these 
words  the  vision  disappeared,  and  I  awoke  from  my 
sleep,  arose  from  my  bed,  and  fell  uport  my  knees, 
spending  a  considerable  time  in  prayer  and  praise. 
This  dream  has  often  since  led  me  to  adore  the  won- 
4* 


42 

derful  condescension  of  the  Son  of  God  to  strengthen 
the  weak  and  feeble  in  the  flock,  in  various  ways, 
and  by  different  means.  How  fitly  and  faithfully 
does  his  conduct  answer  the  prediction  concerning 
the  Messiah  !  "  He  shall  feed  his  flock  like  a  shep- 
herd: he  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and 
carry  them  in  his  bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those 
that  are  with  young.  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not 
break,  and  the  smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench." 
Isaiah,  40  :  11;  42  :  3.  The  young  man  me\i- 
tioned  above,  who  slept  in  the  same  room  with  me, 
gave  me  no  rest  till  I  told  him  what  was  the  burden 
upon  my  mind,  and  the  circumstance  which  had 
transpired  in  the  night.  Without  my  knowledge  he 
spoke  to  his  friends  on  the  subject,  and  introduced 
me  to  many  pious  and  excellent  Christians,  who 
comforted  me  under  my  bodily  afflictions,  and  in 
whose  company  I  was  much  builded  up  in  our  most 
holy  faith.  My  friend,  as  well  as  myself,  understood 
the  above-mentioned  dream  only  in  its  literal  sense, 
namely,  that  I  was  to  be  a  practitioner  of  medicine  ; 
and  therefore  he  formed  a  plan,  and  used  his  influ- 
ence amongst  his  friends  to  procure  the  necessary 
support  whilst  I  was  studying  that  science.  But  this 
seemed  not  to  be  the  will  of  Providence,  and  there- 
fore it  came  to  naught. 

This  amiable  young  Christian,  a  pattern  of  bro- 
therly love  and  affection,  and  clothed  with  humility 
as  with  a  garment,  first  introduced  me  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Jaenicke,  minister  of  the  Gospel  to  the  Bohe- 
mian congregation.  Whilst  mentioning  the  name 
of  this  servant  of  Christ,  I  should  certainly  have 
considered  it  my  duty  to  speak  of  his  excellent  cha- 
racter, but  conscious  of  my  inability  to  do  justice  to 
the  subject,  I  shall  merely  observe,  that  he  is  a  man 
of  God,  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  con- 
stantly going  about  doing  good. 


fkey's  narrative.  43 

One  Sabbath  towards  the  closeof  1799,  when  re- 
turning from  the  Moravian  chapel,  I  was  met  by 
several  young  men,  one  of  whom  said,  "Well,  bro- 
ther Frcy,  should  you  like  to  go  as  a  missionary  ?" 
"  Yes,"  said  I,  "I  am  willing  to  go  any  where  whi- 
thersoever the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  should  be  pleased 
to  send  me."  "  You  had  better,"  said  another,  "  go 
to  Mr.  Jaenicke  and  give  in  your  name."  Ac- 
cordingly I  went  to  Mr.  Jaenicke,  who,  after  having 
had  some  conversation  with  me,  especially  on  the 
nature  of  the  work  of  a  missionary,  inserted  my 
name  amongst  those  who  had  already  offered  them- 
selves as  candidates  "  to  j)reach  among  the  Gentiles 
the  unsearchable  riches  of*  Christ."  Several  months 
elapsed  before  we  knew  for  a  certainty  that  the 
seminary  would  be  established.  Mr.  Albrecht,  one 
of  the  candidates,  and  myself,  went  with  letters  of 
recommendation  from  Mr.  Jaenicke  to  Baron  Van 
Shiernding,  of  Dorbrylugh,  in  Saxony,  at  whose  ex- 
pense the  seminary  was  to  be  supported ;  and  a  few 
weeks  afterwards  we  received  orders  from  him  to 
quit  our  worldly  occupations,  and  devote  ourselves 
to  study,  under  the  care  and  superintendence  of  Mr. 
Jaenicke.  In  the  month  of  February,  1800,  the 
Missionary  Seminary  was  opened,  and  seven  stu- 
dents were  received,  viz.  Messrs.  Albrecht,  Hard- 
wig,  Langner,  Palm,  Schreibfogel,  Ulbricht,  and 
myself.  The  missionaries  in  this  seminary  were 
not  designed  for  any  particular  place  among  the 
heathen,  nor  to  be  sent  out  by  this  institution,  but 
merely  to  receive  the  necessary  education,  and  then 
to  be  sent  by  any  missionary  society.  From  this 
circumstance  a  very  great  difficulty  arose  ;  for  not 
knowing  the  place  of  our  future  destination,  it  was 
impossible  to  determine  what  language  we  ought  to 
learn.  3Ir.  Jaenicke  and  his  friends  therefore  re- 
solved that  we  should   be  taught  the  rudiments  of 


44 

several  languages.  Accordingly  we  began  Latin ^ 
Greek,  Hebrew,*  Dutch,  French,  Arabic,  and  Sy- 
riac.  Besides  this,  we  had  to  attend  on  several  other 
lectures,  such  as  theology,  geography,  music,  medi- 
cine, <fcc.  <fec.  Our  work  was  hard,  and  nothing 
but  love  to  immortal  souls,  and  an  earnest  desire  to 
promote  the  honor  of  a  precious  Savior,  could  have 
supported  us.  Those  who  wished  to  make  them- 
selves masters  of  the  lessons  they  had  received,  had 
need  to  redeem  every  moment  of  their  time.  Sel- 
dom did  I  allow  myself  six  hours'  sleep,  and  very 
frequently  I  sat  up  whole  nights. 

While  at  this  seminary,  we  had  not  the  privilege 
of  preaching  publicly,  for  none  are  licensed  to  preach 
but  those  who  have  been  regularly  educated  at  a 
university;  however,  we  composed  each  a  short  dis- 
course, once  a  fortnight,  and  delivered  it  at  Mr. 
Jaenicke's  own  house,  where  some  friends  were  ad- 
mitted. Before  we  had  reached  the  end  of  the  first 
year  in  the  seminary,  a  change  took  place  in  the  cir- 
cumstances of  our  excellent  patron,  which  threaten- 
ed the  ruin  of  the  institution,  and  we  were  actually 
told  that  in  a  month's  time  we  were  to  return  to 
our  former  employments ;  but  blessed  be  the  Lord, 
who  hears  and  answers  the  prayers  of  his  people. 
Mr.  Jaenicke,  our  dear  father,  as  we  wished  to  call 
him,  wrote  to  different  societies  and  private  Chris- 
tians to  afford  their  aid  to  support  the  infant  cause. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  faith,  hope,  trust, 
and  patience  of  Mr.  Jaenicke  v/cre  tried  in  a  most 
remarkable  manner.  The  funds  of  the  institution 
were  often  so  exhausted  that  he  was  obliged  to  pay 
our  sustenance,  for  several  weeks  together,  out  of 
his  own  property,  without  the  least  certainty  of  ever 


*  Alihongh  the  Hebrew  might  be  called  my  native  language, 
yet  I  attended  the  lecturer,  to  learn  it  more  grammatically. 


frey's  narrative.  45 

being  repaid.    Toward  the  close  of  1800  Mr.  Jae- 

uicke  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  K ,  of  H , 

requesting  that  the  candidates  might  be  examined, 
and  one  of  them  chosen  for  the  Danish  Missionary 
Society,  but  that  Mr.  Frey  should  not  be  examined, 
as  they  did  not  wish  for  him,  on  account  of  his  hav- 
ing been  a  Jew. 

On  the  day  of  their  examination,  being  left  alone 
in  the  academy,  my  mind  was  much  affected  by  the 
thought  of  my  being  excluded  from  the  examination, 
and  thought  unfit  or  unworthy  of  the  office.  I  hum- 
bled myself  before  God,  and  after  having  spent  some 
time  in  prayer,  I  wrote  the  name  of  each  candidate 
upon  a  piece  of  paper,  and  took  one,  to  see,  as  it 
were,  whom  the  Lord  had  chosen.*  To  my  great 
surprise  1  had  taken  my  own  name  ;  but  as  I  w^as 
expressly  excluded,  I  did  not  know  what  to  make  of 
it :  how^ever,  I  comforted  myself  with  these  words, 
"  What  I  do  ye  know  not  now  ;  but  ye  shall  know  it 
hereafter  :"  nor  was  it  a  long  time  before  this  cir- 
cumstance was  quite  plain ;  for  though  brother 
Schriebfogel  was  then  chosen,  and  left  the  semi- 
nary some  time  before  me,  yet  it  was  myself  who 
actually  entered  upon  the  labors  of  a  missionary 
before  any  of  the  others. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  year  1801,  Mr.  Jae- 
nicke  received  several  very  encouraging  letters  and 
liberal  donations  from  the  society  at  Basle,  from  the 
Missionary  Society  in  London,  and  from  private 
Christians.  On  the  11th  of  June,  1801,  Mr.  Jae- 
nicke  informed  us  that  the  London  Missionary  So- 
ciety had  written  for  three  missionaries,  to  be  assis- 
tants to  Dr.  Vander  Kemp,  in  Africa.  After  a  most 
solemn  prayer  to  God,  he  chose  brother  Palm,  Ul- 

*  Being  at  this  time  intimately  acquainted  with  the  Movavi- 
unt-',  who  made  use  of  the  lot,  I  followed  their  example. 


46 


NARRATIVE. 


bricht,  and  myself.     On  the  11th  of  July,  1801,  we 
left  Berlin,  and  began  onr  journey  to  England. 

But  before  I  conclude  this  chapter,  I  will  take  no- 
tice of  one  circumstance  at  least  which  occurred 
whilst  at  Berlin.  One  day,  when  taking  my  dinner 
as  usual  in  the  eating-house,  I  was  much  struck  with 
the  conversation  of  some  persons  at  the  table;  their 
language  and  expressions,  respecting  our  blessed  Sa- 
vior, were  so  horrid  and  blasphemous,  that  I  could 
bear  it  no  longer,  but  addressed  them  in  the  follow- 
ing manner:  "My  friends,  you  profess  to  be  Chris- 
tians, but  by  your  words  you  manifest  that  you  are 
at  present  as  great  and  bitter  enemies  to  Jesus 
Christ  as  those  who  crucified  him.  Had  you  charged 
my  brother  or  my  friends  with  half  of  that  with 
which  you  have  charged  my  God  and  Savior,  I  should 
certainly  have  summoned  you  before  a  court  of  jus- 
tice :  and  suppose  that  you  should  not  be  able  to  prove 
what  you  have  asserted,  what  would  be  the  conse- 
quence ?  But,  alas!  there  is  no  tribunal  in  this  me- 
tropolis where  I  could  defend  the  character  of  my 
blessed  Savior.  However,  be  it  known  to  you,  that 
there  is  a  day  coming,  when  both  you  and  I  shall 
stand  before  the  Judge  of  the  whole  earth,  when  the 
books  will  be  opened,  and  your  present  conversation 
will  be  read  before  an  innumerable  company,  with 
the  addition,  that  a  person  then  present,  who  was 
once  a  Jew,  but  had  embraced  the  Christian  religion, 
reproved  you  for  the  dishonor  cast  upon  your  Sa- 
vior." Here  I  was  interrupted  by  a  young  man,  Mr. 
Rockenstein,  who  said,  "So  you  have  changed  your 
religion  ?  I  think  that  is  the  worst  thing  a  person 
can  be  guilty  of.  Every  person  ought  to  keep  the 
religion  in  which  he  was  brought  up."  "Before  I 
answer  your  question,"  said  I,  "or  justify  my  con- 
duct, permit  me  to  ask,  do  you  believe  the  Bible  ?" 
"I  would,"   was   his   reply,  "but  I   cannot."    "I 


frey's  narrative.  47 

should  be  glad  to  have  some  private  conversation 
with  you."   We  paid  for  our  dinner,  and  took  a  walk 
together.    Upon  inquiry,  I  found  tliat  Mr.  Rocken- 
stein  was  a  native  oi^New  Brandenburg,  Sirelitz  Meck- 
hnburgh,  the  place  where  I  was  received  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  where  I  finished  my  ap- 
prenticeship ;  on  which  account  I  was  considered  as 
a  native  of  that  place,  and  usually  called  Branden- 
burgher.     This  circumstance  united  our  affections, 
and  rendered  our  conversation  free  and  unreserved. 
Mr.  R.  told  me  that  he  was  led  to  doubt  the  truth 
of  the  Bible,  because  there  were  several  things  in  it 
which  he  could  not  reconcile  with  the  ])erfections  of 
God,  and  other  things  which  he  could  not  under- 
stand.   I  endeavored  to  remove  his  doubts,  and  be- 
fore we  parted  he  promised  to  call  on  me  the  next 
day.     Early  on  the  next  morning,  which  was  the 
Lord's  day,  he  called  on   me,  and  we  went  both  to 
Iiear  Mr.  Jaenicke,  who,  in  the  course  of  his  sermon, 
pointed  out  the  folly,  guilt,  and  danger  of  those  per- 
sons who  reject  the  Bible  because  it  is  above  their 
comprehension.    My  friend  Rockenstein  concluded, 
from  the  discourse  of  Mr.  Jaenicke,  that  I  had  told 
him  our  yesterday's  conversation,  for  which  he  re- 
proved  me.     Having  assured  him   that  I  had  not 
done  so,  but  that  Mr.  Jaenicke  was  a  man  of  much 
prayer  to  God  for  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  be  enabled  to  speak  a  word  in  season,  Mr.  R. 
seemed  to  be  satisfied.     On  the  same  day  we  went 
together  to  Ri'lxsdorf,  to  hear  a  Moravian  minister, 
where,  to  the  great  surprise  of  my  friend,  the  minis- 
ter, Johannes  Bellwitz,  preached  on  the  divinity  of 
our  blessed  Savior  ;  and,  like  Mr.  .Jaenicke,  with 
holy  zeal  for  the  honor  of  Christ,   and  unfeigned 
love  for  the  souls  of  men,  he  warned  every  one  of 
his  hearers  not  to  reject  any  part  of  divine  revelation, 
ahhough  it  might  exceed  their  comprehension.  This 


48 

sermon  was  greatly  blessed  to  my  friend  Rocken- 
stein,  who  afterwards  attended  regularly  on  the  mi- 
nistry of  Mr.  Jaenicke,  walked  according  to  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ,  and  gave  full  evidence  of  his  being  a 
Christian  in  deed  and  in  truth.  Soon  after  I  had 
come  to  London  I  received  from  him  several  edify- 
ing and  satisfactory  letters,  which  lead  me  to  con- 
sider him  as  the  first  fruits  of  my  weak  and  feeble 
endeavors. 

Christian  reader,  let  this  circumstance,  as  well  as 
the  word  spoken  to  me  in  the  stage-coach,  as  men- 
tioned in  page  20,  encourage  you  to  embrace  every 
opportunity  to  reprove  and  exhort  sinners,  and  to 
recommend  Jesus  Christ  and  his  glorious  Gospel  ; 
for  "  a  word  spoken  in  season,  how  good  it  is  !" 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MY    DESIGN    IN    COMING    TO    ENGLAND. 

Saturday,  July  11th,  1801, 1  left  Berlin,  in  com- 
pany with  Messrs.  Palm  and  Ulbricht,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  going  to  London  to  the  Missionary  Society, 
and  from  thence  to  Africa,  to  join  Dr.  Vander  Kemp 
in  missionary  labors.  We  arrived  at  Hambingh  on 
the  Monday  following,  and  called  on  Mr.  Vander 
Smissen,  who  received  us  with  Christian  affection 
and  love.  From  Hamburgh  we  wei^t  to  Hatzhau- 
sen  in  Friesland,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stracke,  where 
we  met  with  a  most  cordial  reception.  At  this  place 
we  remained  six  weeks,  to  learn  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage. While  staying  with  Mr.  Stracke,  we  had 
the  privilege  of  preaching,  in  the  surrounding  vil- 
lages, to  most  attentive  congregations  of  from  two 
to  four  hundred  people.  We  had  also  an  opportunity 


frey's  narrative.  49 

of  becoming  acquainted  with  several  most  excellent^ 
pious,  and  zealous  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

On  the  first  of  September  the  wind  became  favor- 
able and  we  received  orders  to  embark  for  England. 
Three  captains,  friends  to  the  cause  of  the  Re- 
deemer, offered  each  to  take  one  of  the  missionaries 
gratis.  Early  on  the  next  day  we  took  an  affection- 
ate leave  of  our  friends,  and  went  each  to  his  re- 
spective vessel,  which  lay  at  Emden.  The  separa- 
tion from  my  two  missionary  brethren  was  not  a 
small  trial.  The  hope  of  seeing  them  again  a<- 
London  afforded  some  relief;  but  my  greatest  com- 
fort and  support  was  derived  from  sweet  communion 
with  my  blessed  Savior,  "  who  sticketh  closer  than 
a  brother."  The  first  day,  when  on  board  the  ship, 
I  was  unwell ;  but  keeping  much  on  deck,  I  soon  re- 
covered. The  grandeur  of  the  sea,  which  I  had 
never  seen  before,  the  rising  of  the  sun,  the  sight  of 
an  approaching  ship,  together  with  the  kind  treat- 
ment of  the  captain,  made  the  voyage  seem  very 
short,  and  exceedingly  pleasant. 

On  Tuesday,  September  15th,  we  reached  Graves- 
end.  At  the  Alien  Office  I  was  informed  that  the 
brethren,  Palm  and  Ulbricht,  had  just  gone  up  to 
London,  and  that  I  must  wait  at  least  two  days  until 
I  received  a  passport  from  London.  I  went  to  an 
inn,  but  as  I  could  not  speak  one  word  of  English, 
I  knew  not  what  to  do.  Whilst  walking  up  and 
down  in  the  street,  in  great  anxiety  of  mind,  I  met 
with  a  poor  German  soldier,  who  could  speak  both 
German  and  English ;  him  I  took  with  me  to  the 
inn  to  be  my  interpreter.  In  the  afternoon  I  went 
to  the  Rev.  W.  Kent,  and  dehvered  a  ^ew  lines, 
which  the  pilot  on  board  the  ship  gave  me,  to  inform 
Mr.  Kent  who  I  was.  Although  I  could  not  speak, 
yet  it  was  very  encouraging  to  meet  with  a  Chris 
tian  friend,  especially  as  Mr.  Kent  was  exceedinglv 

5 


50 

kind  to  me,  and  introduced  me  to  several  of  fiis 
friends.  In  the  evening  I  was  much  depressed  in 
my  mind,  cast  down,  and  fidl  of  fears ;  but  I  was 
enabled  to  pour  out  my  heart  before  God  in  fervent 
prayer,  and  retired  with  some  confidence  and  trust 
in  Him  who  has  said,  *'  My  grace  shall  be  sufficient 
for  thee."  About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  had 
a  most  remarkable  dream,  which  I  recorded  in  my 
day-book  as  soon  as  I  rose,  and  which  has  since 
been  literally  fulfilled.  The  dream,  as  it  stands  in 
my  journal,  introduced  by  an  observation,  and  a 
short  prayer,  is  as  follows  :* 

*'  Observation.  The  design  of  my  day-book  is  to 
enable  me,  after  many  day?,  to  survey  with  gratj- 
tude  and  praise  all  the  ways  in  which  the  Lord  has 
led  me ;  especially  to  record,  from  day  to  day,  as 
much  as  possible,  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts 
of  my  heart,  whether  good  or  evil.  I  consider  it, 
therefore,  my  duty  to  observe  what  passes  in  my 
soul  when  my  body  is  asleep,  as  well  as  when 
awake  ;  and  though  I  would  not  believe  every  dream 
to  be  the  immediate  communication  of  God  to  the 
soul,  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  there  have  been 
such  dreams ;  and  none  can  affirm  that  there  shall 
be  no  such  in  our  days.  It  is  true,  I  know  not 
whether  the  present  dream  shall  come  to  pass ; 
however,  like  Mary,  I  will  ponder  all  these  things  m 
my  heart,  and  preserve  them  in  my  journal. 

*  1  am  quite  aware  of  the  observation?  to  which  I  shall  be 
exposed  from  a  certain  description  of  readers  and  writers,  by  the. 
insertion  of  dreams,  and  I  mast  acknoAviedge  I  have  had  some 
refactance  in  doing  so.  Having,  however,  ample  means  ol 
establishing  its  truths,  and  being  moreover  anxions  to  imitate 
the  sacrecT  writers,  by  giving  a  full  and  faithful  account  ol 
every  circumstance  relating  to  my  public  walk  in  Ii(e,  and  as 
this  dream  itself  had  a  close  connection  with  my  future  destina- 
tion, I  have  not  felt  myself  at  liberty  to  withhold  it  from  the 
public. 


PREY^S    NARRATIVE.  51 

*^  Prayer,  Blessed  Jesus !  ihoa  hast  saiH,  'Whoso 
shall  offend  one  of  these  little  ones,  which  believe 
m  me,  it  were  better  for  him  that  a  mill-stone  were 
hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned 
m  the  depth  of  the  sea.'  Matt.  18 :  G.  I  beseech 
thee,  O  Lord  !  let  not  this  dream  give  offence  to  any 
who  may  hereafter  read  it.  If  it  be  thy  will,  let  it 
be  accomplished  ;  but  let  me  never  be  self-willed,  or 
obstinate,  but  may  I  ever  be  able  to  discern  the 
directions  of  thy  wise  and  holy  providence,  and 
cheerfully  acquiesce  in  thy  gracious  will,  whether  it 
be  prosperous  or  adverse.  Now,  Lord,  unto  thee  I 
commit  all  my  ways;  do  thou  with  me,  a  poor  sin- 
ner, as  it  seems  gocd  in  thy  sight,  for  thy  name's 
sake.    Amen. 

^^  Dream.  I  read  in  a  newspaper,  that  the  two 
brethren.  Palm  and  Ulbricht,  as  well  as  myself, 
were  to  preach  in  London  ;  that  the  Jews  in  par- 
ticular were  (in  a  most  affectionate  manner)  invited 
to  the  discourse  which  I  was  to  deliver.  The  ap- 
pointed day  approached;  an  immense  crowd  col- 
lected, and  I  was  enabled  to  preach  to  them  with 
^.^decit  fjuedom,  and  to  lift  up  my  voice  like  a  irum'pe.t. 
i  thought  that  the  effect  of  this  discourse  was,  that 
i  was  afterward  desired  to  stay  in  London,  to  preach 
loth  to  Jews  and  Christians  :  to  which  I  replied, 
that  I  could  not  possibly  part  with  my  dear  brethren. 
Palm  ajid  Ulbricht,  and  let  them  go  alone;  but  that 
if  the  directors  w^ould  f»3nd  for  another  missionary 
to  accompany  those  brethren,  I  would  consent;  and 
with  which  the  directors  having  complied,  I  resolved 
iQ  remain  in  England." 

As  soon  as  I  awoke,  I  prayed  to  God  for  wisdom 
Mnd  grace  to  prepare  me  for  his  service,  whether  in 
London,  among  Jews  and  Christians,  or  in  Africa, 
amongst  the  poor  Hottentots.  At  five  in  the  morn- 
ing I  went  to  meditate  in  the  fields,  and  found  great 


52  FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 

comfort  and  encouragement  in  that  gracious  pro- 
mise of  our  Savior,  "I  am  with  you  always,  even 
unto  the  end  of  the  world."  Matt.  28  :  20.  'Having 
received  a  passport,  I  went  up  to  London.  On  my 
arrival  at  the  counting-house  of  Joseph  Hardcastle, 
Esq.,  the  Treasurer  of  the  Missionary  Society,  I 
was  directed  to  a  house  in  Bishopsgate-street,  where 
I  was  to  lodge.  Here  I  expected  to  meet  my  dear 
brethren,  Palm  and  Ulbricht ;  but  as  they  had  gone 
on  board  their  vessels  to  spend  the  night  with  their 
captains,  of  which  none  in  the  house  could  inform 
me,  on  account  of  the  language,  I  was  greatly  dis- 
appointed. The  people  observing  the  cause  of  my 
distress,  took  me  into  the  room  where  the  brethren's 
luggage  was,  the  sight  of  which  greatly  revived  my 
spirits.  In  this  house  I  remained  until  I  went  to 
Gosport.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  the  people  of  the 
house,  behaved  themselves  exceedingly  kind  to  us ; 
they  endeavored,  in  every  possible  way,  to  make  us 
comfortable ;  they  also  took  great  pains  to  help  us 
forward  in  the  knowledge  of  the  English  language. 
The  method  which  I  adopted  to  learn  English,  was 
to  compare  the  English  Bible  with  the  German.  In 
the  five  months  which  [  stayed  in  London,  I  read 
the  Gospel  of  St.  John,  in  English,  four  times  over, 
and  compared  every  verse  with  the  German  Bible, 
and  sought  for  the  meaning  of  every  word  in  the 
dictionary,  by  which  means  I  could  very  soon  under- 
stand what  was  spoken,  though  I  could  not  express 
myself  fluently  till  some  time  after  I  had  left  London. 
On  the  first  Sabbath  of  my  being  in  London,  I 
went  to  Rotherhithe,  to  hear  the  Rev.  John  Town- 
send.  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which 
the  worship  was  performed ;  but  not  being  able  to 
understand  the  language,  I  went  to  the  German 
church  at  the  Savoy,  in  the  Strand,  where,  at  that 
time,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ringeltaube,  now  a  missionary 


frey's  narrative.  53 

m  India,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, preached.  Soon  aft^',  tlie  Rev.  Charles  Stein- 
kopfFwas  ordained  in  the  same  church,  where  I  con- 
tinued to  hear  him  with  great  pleasure  and  edifica- 
tion. As  I  was  not  ahlc  to  converse  in  English,  and 
having  a  great  desire  to  promote  the  salvation  of  my 
dear  brethren  of  the  house  of  Israel,  I  went  fre- 
quently to  their  synagogues,  and  to  those  parts  of  the 
metropolis  where  they  principally  reside,  to  converse 
with  them  in  Hebrew,  German,  or  Dutch.  Very  often 
I  returned  to  my  abode  weeping  and  lamenting  over 
the  deplorable  condition  of  these  my  dear  brethren 
•and  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh.  Sometimes  I  said 
to  Mr.  Smith,  "  Could  I  stay  but  one  year  in  Lon- 
don, I  believe  I  should  be  able  to  preach  to  the  Jews 
in  English,  so  as  to  make  myself  understood  by  them. 
And  Oh  how  happy  I  should  be  to  declare  unto  them 
the  word  of  salvation,  if  ever  so  much  exposed  to 
their  hatred  and  persecution  !"  But  although  this 
was  my  constant  wish  and  earnest  prayer  to  God, 
yet,  for  some  time,  I  had  no  hopes  of  obtaining  my 
desire,  as  we  were  daily  in  expectation  of  meeting 
with  a  ship  to  go  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  as  as- 
sistants to  that  venerable  man  of  God,  Dr.  Vander 
Kemp.  But  how  mysterious  are  the  ways  of  the 
Lord!  Five  months  elapsed  without  finding  a  single 
vessel  to  take  us  to  our  destined  haven.  Both  my 
brethren.  Palm  and  Ulbricht,  as  well  as  myself, 
manifested  impatience,  and  a  readiness  to  murmur 
against  the  dispensations  of  Divine  Providence  ;  but 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  *'  whose  thoughts 
are  not  as  our  thoughts,  and  whose  ways  are  not  as 
our  ways,"  with  gratitude  and  praise  I  can  now  say, 
''  He  has  done  all  things  well." 

Mr.  Ringeltaube  having  one  day  read  in  my  jour- 
nal the  dream  which  I  had  at  Gravesend,  as  men- 
tioned above,  and  having  been  told  that  I  wished  to 

5* 


54 

stay  some  time  in  London,  to  preach  to  my  brethren 
the  Jews,  advised  me  tc^rite  a  letter  on  the  sub- 
ject to  Mr.  Hardcastle,  ^d  promised  that  he  would 
translate  it  into  English.  Accordingly  I  wrote  to 
that  purpose;  in  answer  to  which,  I  was  desired  to 
draw  up  an  account  of  my  life,  and  to  state  fully, 
in  a  letter  to  the  directors,  my  request,  together  with 
the  motives  which  induced  me  to  it. 

tn  compliance  with  their  wish,  I  wrote  a  short 
account  of  my  narrative,  (the  substance  of  which 
appeared  in  the  Evangelical  Magazine  for  January, 
1806,)  and  sent  a  letter  to  the  directors,  which  I 
wrote  in  the  German  language,  and  of  which  the 
following  is  a  literal  translation  : 

Rom.  9  :  1-3.  "I  say  the  truth  in  Christ,  I  lie 
rot,  my  conscience  also  bearing  me  witness  in  the 
I  [oly  Ghost,  that  I  have  great  heaviness,  and  con- 
'  inual  sorrow  in  my  heart.  For  I  could  (or  rather, 
I  did*)  wish  that  myself  were  accursed  from  Christ 
for  my  brethren,  my  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh. 

"  Beloved  brethren  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
ihese,  and  similar  words  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  in 
which  he  manifested  his  love  to  the  Jews,  and  his 
heartfelt  sorrow  on  account  of  their  unbelief,  have 
often  raised  in  me  so  great  a  desire  to  go  as  a  mis- 


*  Perhaps  few  passages  of  Scripture  have  "been  more  per- 
verted to  promote  error  than  this.  The  apostle  has  been  lield 
np  as  a  pattern  of  holy  zeal,  to  have  been  willing  to  suffer 
r.ternal  damnation,  if  thereby  souls  could  be  saved.  This 
strange  and  unscriptural  doctrine  can  certainly  not  be  deduced 
from  This  text.  The  Greek  word  evidently  has  the  fast  signifi- 
cation, and  refers  to  the  icish  and  desire  of  the  apostle  before 
his  conversion,  and  was  mentioned  by  him  as  a  reason  why  he 
felt  so  mucli  pity  and  compassion  for  his  unbelieving  brethren. 
A  drunkard  reclaimed  will  naturally  feel  more  for  a  poor  drunk- 
ard in  the  street,  than  those  who  have  always  detested  this  worse 
than  beastly  conduct. 


frey's  narrative.  55 

sionary  amongst  the  Jews,  as  to  overbalance  all  the 
dangers  which  such  a  minion  might  expose  me  to. 
Indeed,  soon  after  I  was  truly  awakened,  I  felt  an 
anxious  wish,  out  of  love  to  my  dear  Savior,  who 
gave  himself  for  me  unto  the  most  painful  and  igno- 
minious death,  and  out  of  love  and  compassion  to 
the  ignorant  amongst  Christians,  or  amongst  hea- 
thens, to  preach  the  blessed  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
that  the  Son  of  God  has  endured  the  greatest  suffer- 
ings, even  unto  the  death  of  the  cross,  for  poor, 
accursed,  helpless  men  ;  yet  it  is  also  true,  that  as 
often  as  I  saw  a  Jew,  one  of  my  own  brethren  and 
kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh,  my  whole  heart  was 
stirred  up  within  me;  and  my  prayer  to  God  was, 
O  that  this  poor  lost  sheep  might  find  the  right  way 
to  the  good  Shepherd,  who  gave  his  life  a  ransom 
for  our  souls.  Whenever  I  found  an  opportunity  to 
speak  to  one  of  the  descendants  of  Abraham,  I  told 
him  that  the  promised  Messiah  was  already  come, 
not  only  as  the  son  of  David,  but  also  as  the  Son  of 
God  ;  that  he  was  made  a  curse  for  us  when  he  suf- 
fered and  died  on  the  cross  to  deliver  us  from  the 
curse  of  the  law,  but  that  the  same  person  rose 
again  from  the  dead  on  the  third  day,  according  to 
the  Scripture  prophecy ;  that  he  ascended  on  high  ; 
and  that  in  believing  this,  I  enjoyed  happiness  that 
could  not  be  expressed.  I  also  translated,  at  Ber- 
lin, into  German  Hebrew,  (i.  e.  German  language  in 
Hebrew  letterS;)  three  of  Mr.  Cooper's  sermons 
preached  to  the  Jews  in  London,  in  expectation  that 
the  Baron  Van  Shirnding  would  cause  them  to  be 
printed  for  the  use  of  the  Jews.  I  also  translated 
liUther's  Shorter  Catechism,  and  wrote  several 
things,  which  I  frequently  read  to  some  of  my  dear 
brethren,  and  often  observed,  that  many  of  them 
resisted  the  truth  merely  out  of  fear  of  men.  On 
the  Sabbath  I  used  to  go  to  the  synagogue,  for  the 


66 

sake  of  having  religious  conversation  with  my  deaj' 
brethren.  Two  or  three  hundred  would  stand  round 
about  me,  to  whom  I  spoke  with  the  greatest  bold- 
ness respecting  their  unbelief  and  misery,  and  de- 
clared to  them  the  suitable,  free,  and  full  salvation 
by  Jesus  Christ ;  and  assured  them  of  his  wonder- 
ful love  to  |)oor  sinners,  yea,  even  to  the  chief  of 
sinners.  Some  brought  forward  objections  against 
Christianity,  but,  through  grace,  I  was  enabled, 
from  the  writings  of  the  Old  Testament,  to  defend 
myself.  Although  1  have  not  yet  seen  any  fruit  of 
those  labors,  yet  I  know  and  believe  that  the  doc- 
trine of  the  cross  will  produce  its  effects  in  due 
season. 

"  The  reasons,  therefore,  my  dearly  beloved  bre- 
thren, why  I  believe  that  my  blessed  Savior  will 
count  me  worthy,  if  not  here,  yet  somewhere  else, 
and  if  not  now,  yet  at  some  future  time,  to  make 
known  his  blessed  Gospel  to  my  brethren  and  sis- 
ters, are  these  : 

*'  First — The  inexpressible  and  irresistible  wish 
and  desire  which  I  feel  to  point  out,  through  the 
grace  and  assistance  of  Him  whose  strength  is  made 
perfect  in  our  weakness,  to  the  poor  and  w^andering 
Jews,  the  way  to  obtain  eternal  life. 

*'  Secondly — It  is  well  known  that  a  Jew  w^ho  hag 
embraced  the  Christian  religion,  is  generally  looked 
upon  by  his  ovv^n  nation  with  the  greatest  contempt 
and  reproach,  yea,  even  persecuted  as  much  as  lies 
in  their  power  ;  yet,  to  my  great  surprise,  I  have 
been  received,  by  many  Jews  in  Berlin,  with  friend- 
ship and  respect.  Twice  T  had  religious  conversa- 
tion with  the  presiding  Rabbi  himself;  and  here,  in 
London,  I  have  dined  with  some,  at  whose  table  I 
have  not  been  ashamed  nor  afraid  to  confess  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  to  be  the  true  Messiah  ;  and  not  a  few 


frey's  narrative.  57 

have  already  visited  me  at  my  apartments,  for  the 
sake  of  having  religious  conversation. 

"  Tliirdly — I  have  observed  that  my  brethren  will 
rather  listen  to  what  I  say,  than  to  what  they  hear 
advanced  by  a  Christian  ;  and  that  they  would  open, 
with  freedom  and  confidence,  their  mind  to  me, 
which  they  would  never  do  to  one  who  was  born  a 
Christian. 

''  The  last  reason  which  I  assign  for  my  wish  is : 

"  Fourthly — That  I  humbly  hope  Tam  acquainted 
with  their  peculiar  dispositions  and  conduct;  that  I 
know  their  religious  sentiments ;  and  that  I  shall  be 
enabled,  through  the  grace  of  my  blessed  Savior,  to 
become  all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  may  by  all  means 
save  some,  especially  of  those  of  my  own  nation, 
whom  I  love  with  love  unfeigned  and  inexpressible. 

*'  It  is,  therefore,  my  dearly  beloved  brethren,  my 
humble  wish  to  remain,  if  but  one  year,  in  London, 
to  try,  if  possible,  to  save  if  but  one  soul  from  the 
power  of  Satan,  and  lead  them  to  the  good  Shepherd 
who  gave  his  life  for  the  sheep,  <fec.  But  Jesus  is 
my  Lord  and  Savior,  who  has  bought  me  on  the  cross 
with  hie  pi-Qoioii*  Llnojl  ;  to  liim  I  g"ivp  mysclf  again 
in  body  and  soul,  to  be  directed  in  this  important  ob- 
ject. He  who  is  infinite  in  wisdom,  knows  best  what 
is  good  for  me,  a  poor  worm.  He  is  perfectly  ac- 
quainted with  the  hearts  of  men,  and  turns  them  as 
he  does  the  rivers  of  water.  The  desires  and  mo- 
tives of  my  heart  are  better  known  to  him  than  to 
myself;  and  he  will  no  doubt  lead  and  rule,  accord- 
ing to  his  holy  will,  the  hearts  of  my  dearly  beloved 
brethren  and  directors. 

"  I  am  your  willing  servant, 

"C.  F.  Frey. 

**Londcn,  Nov.  24,  ISO  I." 

After  I  had  sent  this  letter  to  the  directors,  I  at- 


58 

tended  several  of  their  meetings,  to  answer  various 
questions  relative  to  a  mission  amongst  the  Jews  ; 
and  on  the  21st  of  December  I  received  the  impor- 
tant intelligence,  that  "  the  directors  had  resolved 
that  I  should  stay  at  least  one  year  in  England." 
The  workings  produced  in  my  mind,  on  the  receipt 
of  this  message,  were  very  opposite,  and  continued 
so  for  several  weeks.  The  idea  of  preaching  the 
word  of  salvation  to  my  dear  brethren,  and  the  hope 
of  rescuing  some  from  everlasting  destruction,  filled 
my  heart  with  unspeakable  joy  and  pleasure  ;  but  a 
consciousness  of  my  utter  unfitness  for  so  great  and 
arduous  an  undertaking  overwhelmed  my  mind  with 
inexpressible  sorrow  and  grief,  and  would  have  led 
me  to  despair,  had  it  not  been  for  that  gracious  pro- 
mise, "  as  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be."  The 
following  passages  of  Scripture  likewise  greatly  en- 
couraged my  heart :  2  Chron,  34  :  3,  "  In  the  eighth 
year  of  his  reign,  (i.  e.  Josiah,)  while  he  was  yet 
young,  he  began  to  seek  after  the  God  of  David  his 
father  :  and  in  the  twelfth  yersi'  he  began  to  purge 
Judah  and  Jerusalem  from  the  high  places,  and  the 

grovell,  anrl  tbo  onrvPfl  imngoo,  aiicl  tho  molten  ima- 
ges." 2  Cor.  5:7,"  We  walk  by  iiiith,  and  not  by 
sight."  The  change  respecting  myself  affected  like- 
wise the  brethren.  Palm  and  IJlbricht.  Instead  of 
going  directly  to  the  Cape,  they  were  both  sent  to 
Kotterdam,  where  they  stayed  for  some  time  ;  and 
afterwards  several  brethren,  from  the  Missionary 
Seminary  at  Berlin,  joined  them. 

Thus  I  have  showed  the  circumstances  which  led 
to  a  change  in  the  design  of  my  coming  to  England, 
and  the  fulfillment  of  a  great  part  of  the  dream  which 
J  had  at  Gravesend. 

The  reader  will,  no  doubt,  now  expect  to  hear 
how  I  entered  upon  this  new  and  most  important 
part  of  my  life,  and  what  success  has  followed  my 


frey's  narrative.  59 

labors  amongst  the  Jews  ;  but  I  must  beg  the  read- 
er's patience,  and  call  his  attention  to  the  gracious 
deaHngs  of  God  with  me  for  the  space  of  three  years 
and  a  half,  viz.  from  the  time  it  was  resolved  that  I 
should  stay  in  England,  to  the  time  of  my  actually 
entering  upon  the  field  of  labor.  As  I  knew  nothing 
of  the  English  language,  and  as  preaching  to  the  Jews 
requires  souie  particular  j)reparatory  studies,  the  di- 
rectors resolved  that  I  should  go  to  Gosport,  to  their 
Missionary  Seminary.  Accordingly,  on  the  28th  of 
February,  1802,  I  left  London  and  went  to  Gosport. 
For  ever  blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  in  his  wise  pro- 
vidence sent  me  to  that  place,  to  be  under  the  tuition 
of  a  man  like  the  Rev.  David  Bogue.  Would  to  God 
I  had  words  to  express  the  high  esteem  which  I  feel 
for  this  my  dear  tutor,  and  the  great  obligations  un- 
der which  I  am  to  him  for  the  inestimable  benefits 
which  I  derived,  and  do  daily  receive,  from  his  most 
excellent  lectures  on  various  subjects ;  from  his  wise, 
prudent,  and  most  judicious  advice  ;  and  from  his 
exemplary  conduct,  both  as  a  Christian  and  as  a 
minister. 

The  fust  thing  I  had  to  attend  to  in  the  seminary, 
was  the  knowledge  of  the  English  language.  I  had 
also  to  iearn  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages.  By 
the  desire  of  my  tutor,  I  gave  the  students  instruc- 
tion in  Hebrew  ;  but  the  extreme  difficulty  of  ob- 
taining a  suitable  Hebrew  grammar,  led  me  to  com- 
pose a  new  one,  several  editions  of  which  have  been 
published  in  London  and  in  this  country. 

A  few  v/eeks  after  I  had  been  at  Gosport.  I  en- 
gaged for  the  first  time  in  prayer,  in  the  seminary, 
in  the  English  language.  Toward  the  close  of 
March  I  was  invited  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cox,  of  Fare- 
ham,  to  spend  the  first  Sabbath  in  April  at  his 
house,  and  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper  at  his 
place  of  worship.    I  accepted  of  his  invitation.    On 


60  frey's  narrative. 

the  preceding  Lord's  day  I  had  a  peculiar  desire  to 
prepare  a  few  words  in  English,  and  to  deliver  them 
on  the  next  Sabbath,  before  the  minister  to  whom  I 
vi^as  to  pay  a  visit.  I  chose  the  5th  verse  in  tlie  17th 
chapter  of  the  Gospel  by  St.  Matthew  :  "While  he 
yet  spake,  behold,  a  bright  cloud  overshadow^ed 
them  :  and,  behold,  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud,  which 
said,  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well 
pleased  ;  hear  ye  him."  On  these  words  I  wrote  a 
few  thoughts  in  the  German  language,  and  translat- 
ed them,  by  the  help  of  a  dictionary,  into  English. 
According  to  my  promise,  I  went  to  Fareham,  to 
the  minister;  and  early  on  the  Lord's  day,  a  num- 
ber of  people  having  met  together  in  the  vestry,  I 
engaged  in  prayer,  and  then  read  what  I  had  writ- 
ten on  the  above-mentioned  passage  of  Scripture. 
Never  in  my  life  have  I  witnessed  a  scene  like  that 
morning  ;  tears,  like  streams  of  water,  flowed  from 
every  eye,  and  the  people  blessed  and  praised  God 
for  what  they  saw  with  their  eyes,  heard  with  their 
ears,  and  felt  in  their  hearts.  I  have  since  been  in- 
formed that  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  bless  those 
few  imperfect  sentences  in  broken  English  to  two 
persons,  especially  to  one  who  disbelieved  the  divi- 
nity of  our  blessed  Savior.  This  circumstance  I 
considered  then  as  a  proof  that  it  was  the  will  of 
God  that  I  should  stay  in  England  ;  and  I  looked 
upon  those  two  who  received  the  word  with  profit, 
as  my  first  fruits,  on  British  ground,  of  a  plentiful 
harvest. 

t"  In  the  same  month  I  went  to  an  association  at 
Christ  Church,  where,  for  the  first  time,  I  ascended 
an  English  pulpit  to  engage  in  prayer;  and  in  the 
following  May  I  went  up  to  London,  to  the  Mission- 
ary meeting,  when  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  introduc- 
ed^me  into  his  pulpit  for  the  like  purpose.  The  feel- 
ings of  my  mind  at  the  sight  of  such  an  immense 


frey's  narrative.  61 

congregation,  and  on  account  of  my  imperfect  know- 
ledge of  the  language,  cannot  be  described.  O  that 
I  could  sufficiently  praise  the  Lord  for  his  wonder- 
ful goodness  and  mercy  to  me  a  poor  sinner. 

Whilst  I  was  at  Gosport,  I  made  it  a  common 
practice,  on  a  Saturday,  to  go  over  to  Portsca,  where 
many  Jews  live,  to  have  religious  conversation  with 
them.    One  time  I  was  met  by  a  Jew  constable,  who 
asked  me  for  my  license  as  a  foreigner.     I  replied 
that  I  had  a  license  at  Gosport,  but  had  not  thought 
it  necessary  to  take  it  with  me  whenever  I  crossed 
the  water,  as  it  was  well  known  to  several  Chris- 
tians at  Portsea,  that  I  belonged  to  the  Missionary 
Seminary,  under  the  care  of  the   Rev.  D.  Bogue. 
However,  he  would  not  be  satisfied  with  this,  but 
took  me  to  the  Mayor's  house,  who  not  being  at 
home,  I  was  led  by  the  constable  directly  to  Ports- 
mouth jail.     Being  late  in  the  evening,  I  was  put 
into  a  room  where  two  other  prisoners  were.  Before 
I  laid  myself  to  rest,  having  told  the  prisoners  the 
cause   of  my  imprisonment,  I  prayed  to  God,  and 
was  enabled  to  pray  particularly,  in  a  most  affec- 
tionate manner,  for  my  brother  Jew,  who  had  im- 
prisoned me.     This  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever 
slept  in  a  prison  ;  but  I  can  assure  the  reader  that 
I  never  enjoyed  a  more  comfortable,  sweet,  and  re- 
freshing sleep  than  I  had  that  night  ;  for  I  had  not 
only  the  testimony  of  iny  conscience  to  be  void  of 
ofl^ence  towards  God  and  towards  men,  but  I  could 
not  help  thinking  that  I  suffered,  in  a  great  measure, 
on  account  of  my  religious  profession.    In  the  morn- 
ing, when  the  prisoners  met  in  the  yard,  as  usual, 
they  said  one  to  another,  "  There  is  a  wonderful 
man  come  amongst  us;  we  curse  oiu-  enemies,  but 
he  prays  for  them  ;  nay,  he  even  prayed  last  night 

for  Mr. ,  who  brought  him  into  the  jail."  When 

I  came  into  the  yard,  a  poor  old  woman  invited  me 

6 


62  FREY's    NARilATIVlS* 

to  breakfast  with  heiv  As  1  had  neither  gold  no? 
silver  with  me,  I  accepted  thankfully  of  her  kind 
offer.  After  breakfast,  I  said  to  some  of  the  prison- 
ers, "I  am  sorry  that  we  are  deprived  (being  Sab- 
bath day)  of  the  privilege  of  going  to  a  place  of 
worship;  if  you  have  no  objection,  we  will  sing  a 
hymn,  and  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible."  Having 
obtained  their  consent,  I  took  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms 
and  Hymns,  and  on  opening  the  book,  the  following 
hymn  was  the  first  that  presented  itself: 

"M}:-  God,  my  life,  my  love, 

"To  thee,  to  thee  f  call; 
*^I  cannot  live  if  thou  remove^ 

"For  thou  art  all  in  alL 

"  Thy  shining  grace  can  cheer 

"Tills  dungeon  where  I  dwell  -^ 
« 'Tis  'paradise  iitliou  art  here, 
"If  thou  departj  \\s  hell.'' 

B.  n,  Hymn  9^. 

Having,  like  Paul  and  Silas,  sung  praises  to  God^ 
I  also  engaged  in  prayer  ;  after  that  I  read  the  26th 
and  27th  chapters  in  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew, 
made  a  few  observations  on  the  sufferings  of  our 
blessed  Savior,  and  on  the  conduct  of  the  Jews; 
where  I  took  occasion  to  inform  them  that  I  had 
been  a  Jew  myself,  but  had  embraced  the  Christian 
religion  ;  on  which  account  I  was  hated  by  my  breth- 
ren the  Jews,  and  which  was.  perhaps,  the  real  cause 
of  my  imprisonment.  But  to  show  that  Christ  did 
not  only  die  for  our  offences,  but  also  rose  again  for 
our  justification,  I  read  also  the  28th  chapter  of  the 
same  gospel,  and  concluded  with  a  short  prayer. 
"Whilst  thus  engaged,  the  Jew  constable  came  to  the 
jail,  and  desired  the  jailer  to  call  me  into  the  house, 
as  he  wished  to  put  some  questions  to  me,  with  a 
design  to   lay  my  case  before  the  Mayor.      The 


¥ 


63 

jailer,  though  at  that  time  no  frierid  to  religion,  re- 
fused, saying,  **  I  dare  not  interrupt  him,  for  he  is 
preaching  to  the  people."  Two  Jews,  who  knew 
that  I  frequented  tlie  house  of  Mr.  Brooks,  went  to 
him,  on  the  same  evening  that  I  was  brought  to  jail, 
and  informed  him  of  my  imprisonment.  Mr.  B.  im- 
mediately sent  word  to  Mr.  Bogue,  and,  before  one 
o'clock  on  the  Lord's  day,  1  was  liberated.  Several 
of  the  poor  prisoners  wept,  and  desired  me  to  stay 
with  them  that  afternoon,  that  they  might  hear  more 
of  Jesus  Christ.  I  promised  that  I  would  pay  them 
a  visit.  Not  long  after,  when  I  performed  this  pro- 
mise, I  obtained  liberty  to  preach  to  the  prisoners 
every  Lord's  day,  which  I  did  for  two  years  after ; 
but  when  I  had  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  language 
to  preach  in  regular  congregations,  the  jail  was  sup- 
plied by  one  of  the  students  for  many  years  after. 
I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  v/ord  has  been 
blessed  to  the  jailer  himself;  nor  will  it  have  been  in 
vain  amongst  the  prisoners.  The  same  person  who 
put  me  into  the  jail,  ever  afterwards  treated  me  with 
the  greatest  respect,  and  frequently  heard  me  preach. 
Thus  *'  the  Lord  niaketh  the  wrath  of  men  to  praise 
liim,  and  the  remainder  thereof  he  does  restrain." 
In  May,  1802,  I  went  again  to  London,  to  the 
missionary  meeting;  and,  on  the  Sabbath  after,  I 
preached  my  first  sermon  to  the  Jews,  at  Zion 
chapel,  from  Gen,  13  :  8,  "  And  Abram  said  unto 
Lot,  Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray  thee,  between 
thee  and  me  ;  and  between  my  herdmen  and  thy 
herdmen  ;  for  we  are  brethren."  The  place,  though 
immensely  large,  yet  was  exceedingly  crowded,  and 
a  great  number  of  my  dear  brethren,  the  Jews, 
attended.  The  Lord  graciously  assisted  me,  both 
in  body  and  mind,  to  speak  to  so  large  a  congrega- 
tion with  great  freedom  and  affection.  This  I  con- 
sider as  the  complete  fulfillment  of  the  dream  which 


64  frey's  narrative. 

I  had  at  Gravesend.  In  the  same  month  I  returned 
a^ain  to  Gosport,  and  remained  there  till  May, 
1805,  when,  by  the  desire  of  the  directors  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  I  left  their  seminary  to  begin 
my  regular  labors  amongst  my  dear  brethren  in 
London. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

LABORS    UNDER   THE    PATRONAGE  OF   THE    MIS- 
SIONARY  SOCIETY. 

The  first  sermon  which  I  preached  when  I  came 
to  reside  in  London,  was  at  the  Tabernacle,  on  the 
Saturday  evening  after  the  missionary  jneeting. 
As  there  was  no  stated  place  of  worship  provided 
for  me,  I  preached  for  different  ministers,  both  on 
the  week  days  and  on  the  Sabbath.  Several  Jews 
attended,  whenever  and  wherever  I  preached  in 
London,  or  its  viciiaity.  Almost  every  day  I  had 
one  or  more  Jews  calling  on  me,  but  scarcely  ever 
one  who  would  enter  upon  religious  conversation, 
argument atwdy  or  experimentally.  I  was  introduced 
to  two  Jewesses  who  had  embraced  the  Christian 
religion  ;  the  one  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
Walworth,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Dr.  Jenkins, 
and  the  other  was  convinced  under  the  ministry  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkinson,  of  the  haberdashers'  alms- 
houses, but  which  last  has  since  become  a  member 
of  the  same  church,  at  Walworth.  With  these  two 
Jewesses,  together  with  three  Christians,  I  began  a 
prayer-meeting,  at  my  own  apartments,  on  the  8th 
of  June,  1805,  and  continued  the  same  every  Fri- 
day evening.  Our  number  soon  increased,  so  that 
the  place  was  not  large  enough;  yet  we  continued 
to  m.eet  for  a  whole  year,  and  then  removed  the 


^REIT's    NARftATIVfi.  65 

pfayer-meeting  to  Zion  chapel.  At  this  meeting 
we  had  frequently  a  few  Jev/s  attending".  The 
prayers  then  oiFered  up  may  yet  bring  down  gra- 
cious answers.  With  pleasure  I  do  still  recollect 
the  happy  and  profitable  hours  we  spent  together 
in  prayer  and  praise.  "  O  how  good  and  pleasant 
it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity !"  Fre- 
quently we  experienced  that  "where  two  or  three 
^re  met  together  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  there  he  is 
in  the  midst  of  them,  and  that  to  bless  them." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors,  June  17th,  1805, 
it  was  resolved  that  I  should  preach  a  weekly  lecture 
to  the  Jews.  This  lecture  I  commenced  on  vSatur- 
day  evening,  July  6th,  1805,  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ball's 
chapel,  Jewry-street,  Aidgate,  and  continued  there 
for  twelve  months,  when  it  was  removed  to  Zion 
chapel;  but,  after  a  year,  it  was  preacl  cJ  again  at 
the  former  chapel.  Among  the  many  ministers 
who  attended  was  the  late  Rev.  John  Newton,  who 
was  so  affected  that  he  wept  like  a  child.  My 
preaching  to  the  Jews,  however,  was  frequently  in- 
terrupted by  my  being  sent  to  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom  to  preach  and  collect  for  the  Missionary 
Society  ;  perhaps  no  less  than  three  months  out  of 
twelve.  At  first  a  great  number  of  Jews  attended 
on  these  lectures;  but  they  were  soon  prohibited  in 
the  synagogue,  threatened,  watched,  and  actually 
punished  ;  which  was,  no  doubt,  one  great  cause  of 
their  absenting  themselves:  however,  there  were 
always  some  who  attended  with  apparent  serious- 
ness. The  lectures  preached  from  the  beginnino- 
of  the  institution  till  the  month  of  November,  in 
the  same  year,  were  remarkably  blest.  Three  of 
my  dear  people,  who  regularly  attended  those  lec- 
tures, were  publicly  baptized  in  Scyptember,  1806, 
two  in  Zion  chapel,  and  one  at  Hoxton  chapel,  a 
short  account  of  which  appeared  in  the  Evangelical 
6* 


66 

Magazine  for  October,  1806.     The  latter  of  these 
is  now  my  dear  partner  in  life,  as  well  as  my  sister 
according  to  the  flesh,  and  my  child  in  the  Gospel. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  who  has  thus 
united  us  in  "a  threefold  cord,  which  cannot  easily 
be  bioken."  There  were  also  three  other  Jews  who 
attended- at  the  same  time,  and  gave  full  evidence  of 
thtir  conversion  to  God.     Nor  have  these  lectures 
been  without  a  blessing  to  Christians;  I  could  men- 
tion several  persons  who  bless  God  that  they  ever 
attended  that  place  of  worship,  although  their  mo- 
tive, originally,  was  merely  curiosity.    But  I  must 
forbear  pursuing  this  subject,  lest  it  should  become 
fuel  to  the  natural  pride  of  my  own  heart.    How- 
ever, to  the  glory  and  praise  of  free,  sovereign,  and 
all-sufficient  grace,  I  must  not  pass  over  the  follow- 
ing pleasing  and  singular  circumstance  : — A  most 
respectable  person  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  who 
for  many  years  refused  to  accompany  his  wife  to  any 
place  of  worshij^,  except  to  those  of  his  own  com- 
munity, whose  business  then  brought  him  to  Lon- 
don, was  one  day  prevailed  upon,  by  one  of  his  own 
denomination,  to  go  and  hear  the  Jew  preach  to  his 
brethren ;  when  the  word  of  the  Lord,  though  spoken 
by  a  weak  and  feeble  instrument,  came  home  with 
power  to  his  heart,  and  accomplished  the  design  for 
which  He  sent  it.    He  afterwards  attended  the  lec- 
tures regularly,  and  at  different  places  of  worship,  on 
the  Lord's  day.    At  his  return  to  his  family  in  the 
north  of  England,  he  carried  with  him  the  blessed 
effects  of  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God. 
This  gentleman  had  laid  hiinself  out  to  promote  the 
glory  of  the  Redeemer  in  the  welfare  of  Zion,  and 
was  chosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Missionary 
Society. 

I  now  return  to  mention  how  the  mission  went  on 
among  my  dear  brethren.    It  has  already  been  ob- 


67 

served  that  the  number  cf  Jews  who  attended  the 
lectures  decreased,  yet  some  continued.     Several  of 
these  applied  to  the  Missionary  Society  for  protec- 
tion and   support.      Here  great  difficulties   arose, 
which  appeared  insurniountabh'.     To  find  employ- 
ment for  Jews  amongst  Christians  seemed  impossi- 
ble ;    to  support  them   in   idleness  would  be  most 
injurious,  as  it  would   be  a  sure   means  of  making 
hypocrites,  instead  of  industrious  and  honest  men  ; 
yet,  to  suffer  them  to  starve,  would  indeed  be  cruel. 
Humanity,  therefore,  directed  to  give  them  a  trifle, 
from  time  to  time,  in   hope  of  soon  finding  them 
employment.     Every  application  of  the  Jews  pro- 
duced opposite  sensations  in  my  mind  :  whilst,  on 
the  one  hand,  I  rejoiced  whenever  one  of  my  dear 
brethren  called  on  me  ;  on  the  other  hand,  my  heart 
was   overwhelmed   with   grief  on    account    of  the 
above-mentioned  difficulties.     Having  stated  these 
circumstances  to  a  friend  of  mine,  who  was  not  in 
connexion  with  the  Missionary  Society,  he,  together 
with  some  others,  proposed,  that  if  the   directors 
would  devote  a  sum  of  money  to  the  amount  of  one 
thousand  pounds,  some  kind  of  a  work-house,   or 
small    manufactory,    might   be    established,   where 
many  Jews,  of  both  sexes  and  different  ages,  might 
be  employed.     Accordingly  I  mentioned  this   plan 
at  a  meeting  of  the  directors  ;  but  it  was  thought 
proper  not  to  adopt  it.     The  original  plan  was  pur- 
sued for  some  months  longer  ;  but  difficulties   in- 
creased and  multiplied.  Difference  of  opinion  arose 
among  the  directors.     Some  objected  (I  am  fully 
confident,  from  the  best  of  motives)  against  support- 
ing Jews    from    the   fimds  of  the  society;    whilst 
others  objected  against  spending  so  much  precious 
time,  almost  at  every  meeting,  in  behalf  of  the  mis- 
sion to  the  Jews,  without  making  scarcely  any  pro- 
gress, and  whilst  much  business  relative  to  the  hea- 


68  IFREY's    NARRATiVEk 

then  must  be  neglected.  To  remove  these  objec^ 
tions  a  committee  was  appointed,  called  the  Jewish 
Committee,  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  Jewish  mis- 
sion, and  report  their  proceedings  to  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors;  and  a  resolution  was  passed,  the  substance 
of  which,  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  was  as  follows: 
*'  That  no  Jew  should  be  relieved  from  the  funds  of 
the  society,  except  those  who  lost  their  bread  by 
embracing  Christianity,  or  gave  proof  of  the  sin- 
cerity of  their  profession."  But  these  remedies 
were  very  soon  found  inadequate  to  the  disease. 
The  very  nature  of  the  thing  made  it  impossible  to 
find  out  whether  the  assertion  of  one  who  said,  that 
on  account  of  his  attending  my  ministry  he  had 
lost  his  situation  amongst  the  Jews,  was  true  or  not. 
That  a  Jew,  who  is  found  to  be  favorable  to  Chris- 
tianity, would  be  dismissed  by  his  Jewish  employer, 
or  lose  his  bread  among  his  brethren,  on  that  ac 
count,  is  too  notorious  to  need  any  proof;  and  who- 
ever is  acquainted  with  the  principles  of  the  Tal- 
mudists,  will  not  be  surprised  to  find  that  a  Jew 
should  assign  any  other  reason  for  his  conduct  in 
dismissing  one  of  his  brethren  for  embracing  Chris- 
tianity, rather  than  avow  the  true  one;  nor  could 
the  story  of  the  person  himself  be  credited  till  his 
conduct  among  Christians  had  proved  the  sincerity 
of  his  profession.  But  here  again  arose  the  diffi- 
culty, "  By  what  means  the  poor  individual  should 
be  supported  until  his  character  vvas  established.'*" 
No  Christian  would  employ  such  a  person  till  he 
knew  that  he  was  trust-worthy.  A  house  of  refuge 
and  industry  was  not  yet  found,  and  the  resolution 
of  the  directors,  just  referred  to,  had  made  no  pro- 
vision for  such  a  person  till  he  had  been  found  a 
just  object  of  the  patronage  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety. But  what  shall  the  poor  petitioner  do  in  the 
mean  time?  Shall  he  go  back  to  his  former  connec- 


69 

tion  ?  Alas  !  some  have  done  so ;  but,  adored  and 
praised  be  the  Lord,  who  has  enabled  some  to  en- 
dure hardships,  and  to  persevere  to  the  present  day. 
But  how  have  they  been  supported  ?  Why,  to  tell 
the  ichole  truth,  the  directors  themselves,  out  of 
humaniry,  and  sincere  wishes  to  promote  the  object 
they  had  in  view,  and  rather  than  break  the  resolu- 
tion, and  thereby  give  offence  to  those  who  consi- 
dered the  society's  funds  too  sacred  to  be  violated, 
put  their  hands  into  their  own  pockets  to  keep  those 
unhappy  objects  from  starving,  who  had  no  other 
source  to  supply  their  absolute  wants.  In  many 
cases  I  assisted  several  of  my  poor  brethren,  with- 
out burdening  the  Missionary  Society  ;  for  which 
purpose  [  had  received  some  small  donations  from 
a  few  individuals  in  the  country. 

However,  it  was  often  absolutely  necessary  to  dis- 
pense with  that  resolution  till  the  time  that  employ- 
ment should  be  found  ;  but,  to  the  best  of  my  recol- 
lection, I  can  remember  only  two  instances  in  which 
the  society  has  been  relieved  from  supporting  their 
pensioners,  by  getting  employment  for  them  among 
Christians.  The  appointment  of  a  sub-committee, 
though  a  good  and  wise  plan,  was  almost  as  insuffi- 
cient a  remedy  as  the  fore-mentioned  resolution. 
Notwithstanding  their  frequent  meetings,  wise  con- 
sultations, and  earnest  desires  to  promote  the  objects 
of  the  mission,  their  hopes  have  been  frequently 
disappointed,  their  hands  weakened,  and  their  hearts 
discouraged  ;  for  whenever  a  new  plan  was  laid  be- 
fore the  Board  of  Directors,  or  the  periodical  report 
was  read,  the  old  question  was  renewed,  "  Whetiier 
any  of  the  society's  funds  could  be  applied  in  a  tem- 
poral relief  of  Jews,  to  encourage  them  in  attend- 
ing on  the  means  of  grace,  or  j)arcnts  to  send  their 
children  to  school  ?"  The  frequent  discussion  of  this 
principle,  and  the  different  opinions  that  prevailed 


TO  frey's  narrative. 

on  the  subject,  led  to  a  resolution  that  Mr.  Alers, 
one  of  the  directors,  should  be  requested  to  draw 
up  a  plan  to  remove  these  different  objections  and 
difficulties.  Accordingly  a  inost  judicious  plan  was 
laid  before  the  directors  by  that  gentleman,  the  sub- 
stance of  which  was,  *'  That  a  number  of  the  direc- 
tors should  be  chosen  to  carry  on  the  Jewish  mis- 
sion, as  a  distinct  branch  of  the  Missionary  Society. 
That  tliese  directors  should  be  at  liberty  to  unite 
with  them  a  certain  number  of  persons  of  different 
denominations.  That  a  certain  sum  per  annum, 
out  of  the  missionaries'  funds,  should  be  allowed  by 
the  directors  ;  and  that  the  public  should  be  asked 
for  donations,  subscriptions,  and  collections,  to  in- 
crease the  new  fund.  That  one  of  the  sermons  of 
the  annual  meeting  should  be  preached  in  behalf  of 
the  Jews,  <fec.  <fec.  This  plan,  as  it  might  have 
been  expected,  met  with  the  approbation  of  several 
of  the  directors ;  but  as  this  approbation  was  not 
general,  the  plan  was  laid  aside,  and  a  whole  year 
elapsed  before  any  other  was  proposed.* 

At  the  opening  of  this  school,  or  within  a  few 
months  after,  twelve  or  thirteen  children  were  re- 
ceived. This  charitable  institution  greatly  alarmed 
the  heads  of  the  Jewish  people,  and  led  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Herschel,  the  presiding  Rabbi,  to  preach  against 
it  in  the  synagogue,  and  to  warn  Jews  against  it,  by 
sending  circular  letters  throughout  the  kingdom. 

Abstract  of  the  second  exhortation  delivered  by 

*  Having  become  acquriinted  with  a  very  interesting  Jewish 
family,  desirous  to  have  tlTcir  children  inetrncted  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Christian  religion,  I  took  three  of  them,  two  boys  and 
a  girl,  into  the  family  wheie  I  lodged,  and  paid  for  their  board 
and  instructed  them  daily.  The  circumstance  led  to  timilar 
applications  from  other  Jews,  but  it  not  being  in  my  power  to 
receive  more  upon  my  own  expense,  the  Society  established  a 
Pr.ee  School,  in  January,  1807. 


frey's  narrative.  7i 

the  Rev.  Solomon  Herschel,  at  the  great  synagogucy 
Duke's  Place,  on  Saturday,  January  10th,  A.  M» 
55G7.  After  a  discourse  on  Jeremiah,  11  :  18,  19 
—"Blessed  be  the  Lord  our  God,  and  the  God  of 
our  forefathers,  one  sole,  and  indivisible,  from  eter- 
nity to  eternity  !  who  has  not  withheld  his  grace 
from  us  since  we  have  been  his  chosen  people,  and 
who  has  not  suffered  any  thing  to  escape  our  vigi- 
lance over  the  conservation  of  our  holy  religion.  As 
I  have  had  occasion  to  exercise,  on  the  last  holy 
Sabbath,  to  forewarn  every  one  of  our  nation  not 
to  send  any  of  their  children  to  the  newly  establish- 
ed free-school,  instituted  by  a  society  of  persons  who 
are  not  of  our  religion,  until  we  had,  by  a  proper 
investigation,  determined  if  it  be  completely  free 
from  any  possible  harm  to  the  welfare  of  our  reli- 
gion, as  hath  also  been  fully  stated  in  a  printed  ab- 
stract published  for  that  purpose,  and  which,  I  am 
happy  to  understand,  has  had  a  proper  and  good 
effect  :  now,  having  since  been  wholly  convinced, 
through  the  means  of  a  printed  sermon  and  address, 
published  by  the  directors  of  the  Missionary  Socie 
ty,  viz.  that  the  whole  purpose  of  this  seeming  kind 
exertion  is  but  an  inviting  snare,  a  decoying  experi- 
ment, to  undermine  the  props  of  our  religion  ;  and 
the  sole  intent  of  this  institution  is,  at  bottom,  only 
to  entice  innocent  Jewish  children,  during  their  ear- 
ly and  unsuspecting  years,  from  the  observance  of 
the  law  of  Moses,  and  to  eradicate  the  religion  of 
their  fathers  and  forefathers — on  this  account  I  feel 
myself  necessitated  to  caution  the  congregation,  in 
general,  that  no  one  do  send,  or  allow  to  be  sent,  any 
child,  whether  male  or  female,  to  this  or  any  such 
school  established  by  strangers  to  our  religion,  nor 
likewise  to  any  Sunday  school  of  that  nature. 

"All  such  persons,  therefore,  who  shall  act  con- 
trary to  this  prohibition,  whether  male  or  female. 


72  FREY  S    NARRATIVE, 

will  be  considered  as  if  they  had  themselves  forsaken 
their  religion,  and  been  baptized;  and  shall  lose  all 
title  to  the  name  of  Jews,  and  forfeit  all  claims  on 
the  consTreiration,  both  in  life  and  deatli.  Every  one 
who  feareth  God  is  hereby  reminded  of  his  duty  to 
warn  every  one  who  may  be  ignorant  of  these  cir- 
cumstances, and  acquaint  him  thereof,  that  he  may 
escape  the  snare  laid  to  entangle  him.  Thus  may 
we  hope  to  see  the  days  when  the  name  of  the  only 
God  will  be  hallowed,  and  the  Lord  will  be  one,  and 
his  name  one." 

This  opposition  of  the  Jews,  alas !  had  its  desired 
effect.  For  two  full  years  after  the  opening  of  the 
free  school,  notwithstanding  the  pious  and  zealous 
exertions  of  a  most  respectable  committee  of  ladies, 
not  one  child  was  added  to  the  original  number. 

The  state  of  my  mind,  under  these  discouraging 
circumstances,  may  be  better  conceived  than  de- 
scribed. However,  an  anxious  desire  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  my  dear  brethren,  and  the  hope  that 
some  alteration  would  soon  be  made  in  the  plan  of 
carrying  on  the  mission  to  the  Jews,  enabled  me  to 
ersevere  in  the  work  in  which  I  liad  engaged.* 
On  the  13th  of  August,  1807,  a  resolution  was 
passed  by  the  Jewish  committee,  "  That  I  should  be 
at  liberty  to  unite  with  me  some  gentlemen,  to  have 
conversation  with  those  Jews  who  made  application, 
to  inquire  into  their  character,  to  find  employment 

*  The  establishment  of  this  school,  however,  has  baen  a 
means  of  meliorating  the  condition  of  many  of  my  distressed 
brethren.  F'or,  to  prevent  Jews  from  applying  to  our  society 
for  assistance,  they  themselves  erected  an  institution  by  the 
name  of  Neve  Fedeck,  to  receive  af^ed  men  and  women, 
and  to  educate  children  of  both  sexes.  This  iiis'.itution  has 
already  been  of  great  use  in  furnishing  instruction  to  the  ri- 
sing generation,  and  making  them  industrious  members  in 
society. 


73 

tor  them,  and  to  report  their  proceedings  from  time 
to  time  to  the  Jewish  committee/* 

According  to  this  resolution,  1  endeavored  to  get  a 
few  pious  Christians  to  unite  with  me  ;  and  we  met 
at  my  house  for  the  first  time  on  the  2d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1807.  The  gentlemen  belonging  to  this  com- 
mittee were  Messrs.  Heme,  Kemp,  Longton,  Neale, 
Reed,  and  Walker,  together  with  Mr.  Newth,  the 
master  of  the  free-school,  and  myself.  This  was  de- 
nominated an  Auxiliary  Committee,  and  which  I 
considered  of  great  importance,  and  expected  that 
the  mission  would  be  much  benefited  by  the  humble 
and  zealous  exertions  of  those  who  composed  it. 
But  alas  !  its  existence  was  but  of  short  duration  ; 
for  at  each  meeting  we  became  more  and  more  con- 
vinced of  the  necessity  of  some  change  in  the  plan 
of  carrying  on  the  Jewish  mission. 

In  the  beginning  of  September  I  received  a  let- 
ter from  a  minister  in  the  country,  in  which  he 
says : — 

"  My  dear  Brother,, 

*' I  beg  to  remind  you  of  the  case  of  Mr.  S., 
whom  you  saw  when  here,  and  to  whom  you  spoke 
about  setting  his  children  into  the  school  estab- 
lished  for  the  children  of  the  Jews,"  &c.  &c. 

I  wrote  immediately  to  know  particulars  about 
Mr.  S.,  and  to  ask  whether  he  was  willing  to  place 
his  children  wholly  under  the  patronage  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

To  this  T  received  the  following  answer : — 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"I  have  just  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  S.,  and 
therefore  can  now  inform  you  of  the  result  of  it. 

7 


74  frey's  narrativk. 

With  respect  to  his  circumstances,  he  has  a  wife  and 
six  children,  (all  small,)  and  his  wife  frequently  un- 
well. He  is  very  poor  indeed,  and  finds  it  difficult 
to  procure  for  his  family  the  bare  necessaries  of  life- 
His  eldest  daughter  is  a  cripple,  and  never  likely  to 
do  any  thing  towards  getting  a  livelihood.  I  hardly 
know  a  more  necessitous  family  than  Mr.  S.'s.  He 
has  two  boys  whom  he  would  be  very  glad  to  place 
under  the  care  of  the  Missionary  Society;  and  he 
is  willing  to  comply  with  your  proposal.  His  wife 
was  not  a  Jewess,  but  educated  in  the  profession  of 
the  Christian  religion ;  and  his  children  have  been 
all  publicly  baptized  at  the  parish  church.  He  can- 
not write,  nor  even  read  English.  As  he  is  abso- 
lutely incapable  of  supporting  his  children  from 
home,  I  heartily  wish  there  were  an  institution  for 
boarding  and  educating  such  children  gratis.  Doubt- 
less this  would  be  of  essential  service  to  their  best 
interests.  I  think  that  Charity  might  exert  herself 
to  great  advantage  here.  No  doubt  there  are  many 
Jews  in  England,  in  similar  situations  with  that  of 
Mr.  S.;  and  it  is  likely  that  the  prejudices  of  some 
of  them  would  yield  to  such  inducement.  Their 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  embracing  Christianity  are 
many  and  great ;  but  still,  instead  of  discouraging, 
ou'i-ht  to  excite  us  to  every  measure  which  may  have 
the  least  tendency  to  remove  these  difficulties.  If 
such  an  institution  should  succeed  in  drawing  to- 
gether many  Jewish  children  to  receive  instruction, 
a  most  important  object  would  be  obtained  ;  if  but 
few  should  be  collected  thereby,  the  expense  would 
be  proportionably  less ;  and  that  some  would  be  sent 
by  their  parents,  I  have  Mr.  S.'s  promise  and  wish 
as  a  proof,"  &c.  &c. 

These  letters  I  read,  first  to  the  auxiliary  commit- 
tee, and  then  laid  them  before  the  Jewish  commit 


prey's  narrative.  75 

tee  ;  but  no  decisive  answer  was  given  on  the  subject 
till  some  months  after,  which  I  shall  insert  in  its  pro- 
per place. 

On  the  7th  of  October  it  was  resolved,  by  the 
auxiliary  committee,  "  that  several  of  its  members 
should  deliver  their  judgment  at  the  next  meeting, 
on  the  following  three  questions,  for  the  purpose  of 
submitting  a  plan  to  the  .Jewish  committee. 

**  First — The  practicability  of  establishing  a  board- 
ing school  for  the  Jewish  children,  including  a  school 
of  industry. 

"  Secondly — The  best  means  of  providing  em- 
ployment for  the  destitute,  if  a  manufactory  of  any 
sort  could  be  established. 

'*  Thirdly — The  expediency  of  procuring  a  place 
of  worship  for  Mr.  Frey,  in  order  to  raise  a 
church." 

On  the  14th  of  October  three  papers  Were  read, 
relative  to  the  preceding  resolutions,  which  I  take 
leave  to  insert,  that  the  reader  may  see  the  opinions 
of  different  persons  on  the  subject,  respecting  the 
best  method  of  carrying  on  a  mission  among  the 
Jews. 

MR.    NE ale's    plan. 

*' With  respect  to  the  first  subject  of  considera- 
tion, the  committee  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  inade- 
quacy of  the  present  plan  to  the  accomplishment  of 
the  object  proposed.  It  is  evidently  not  intended  for 
the  rich,  nor  can  it  be  supposed  that  they  would 
avail  themselves  of  it,  when  they  have  in  their  own 
hands  the  means  of  educating  their  children  in  a 
way  so  much  more  agreeable  to  their  views.  It  is 
to  the  children  of  the  poor,  then,  that  our  attention 
must  be  directed,  as  the  appropriate  objects  of  this 
institution  ;  but  here  insuperable  obstacles  present 


76 

themselves.  The  Jewish  poor  have  no  sense  of  the 
importance  of  religious  instruction,  and  very  little 
idea  of  the  value  of  instruction  at  all.  They  have, 
besides,  the  opportunity  of  finding  employment  for 
their  children  while  yet  young,  and  can  ill  afford  to 
spare  those  earnings,  every  portion  of  which  is  so 
greatly  needed  for  the  maintenance  of  their  families. 
They  would,  moreover,  hy  this  step,  not  only  deprive 
themselves  of  present  benefit,  but  also  of  the  pros- 
pect of  future  advantage,  by  incurring  the  displea- 
sure of  their  richer  brethren,  to  whom  they  must 
look  for  relief  in  time  of  distress.  To  these  obsta- 
cles may  be  added,  that  which  is  common  to  all  day- 
schools,  the  distance  at  which  many  reside  from  the 
place  of  instruction. 

"  All  these  difficulties  may  be  obviated  by  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Jewish  boarding-school,  which,  be- 
sides other  advantages,  would,  by  detaching  children 
from  their  former  connections,  prevent  that  danger 
to  which  most  of  them  would  otherwise  be  exposed, 
of  having  the  principles  inculcated  at  school  efifec- 
tually  counteracted  by  the  conversation  and  exam- 
ple of  their  parents  and  others  at  home.  The  loss 
of  their  earnings  would  here  be  more  than  compen- 
sated by  their  board,  &c. ;  and  if  to  the  school  of 
instruction  was  added  a  school  for  industry,  where 
each  might  learn  a  trade,  whereby  to  support  himself 
with  comfort  and  credit  when  he  went  into  the 
world,  it  would  furnish  parents  with  a  powerful  mo- 
tive for  placing  their  cliildren  in  such  a  situation. 
The  indifference  which  they  universally  manifest  to 
all  religious  principles  would  rather  operate  in  favor 
of  an  institution  of  this  sort,  by  lessening  the  objec- 
tion they  might  otherwise  feel  to  have  their  children 
educated  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion. 
Enough  has  been  said,  we  presume,  to  show  the  de- 
sirableness of  such  an  institution ;  its  practicability 


^REV'S    NARRATIVE.  77 

aKone  remains  to  be  considered ;  and  here  we  hope 
that  the  difficulty  will  not  be  found  so  great  in 
reality  as  in  appearance.  It  may  be  best  to  begin 
on  a  small  scale,  and  afterwards  enlarge  as  circum- 
stances shall  render  it  necessary.  The  Philanthropic 
Society,  which  affords  a  very  good  model  for  this, 
though  now  conducted  on  such  an  extensive  plan,  was 
at  first  begun  with  only  one  or  two  children.  With 
respect  to  funds,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that,  as 
the  sphere  of  usefulness  enlarges,  the  liberality  of 
the  public  will,  as  hitherto,  keep  pace  with  it. 

"  The  best  means  of  providing  for  the  destitute, 
which  was  the  next  subject  proposed,  seems  closely 
connected  with  the  former  ;  for  if  a  school  of  indus- 
try were  established,  where  trades  were  taught, 
grown  persons  might  be  instructed  in  them  as  well 
as  children.  The  produce  of  their  labor  would  les- 
sen the  expense  of  their  maintenance  till  they  were 
able  to  provide  for  themselves.  Could  this  be  estfr- 
blished,  it  would  solve  a  very  difficult  question,  to 
which  no  satisfactory  answer  has  yet  been  given,  viz. 
What  is  to  be  done  with  those  who  seem  desirous  of  re- 
ligious instruction,  but  give  no  real  evidence  of  their 
conversion  to  God,  in  case  they  are  out  of  employ  f 
They  cannot  obtain  it  among  the  Jews  without  re- 
nouncing Christianity,  and  returning  to  their  former 
m^des  of  life.  This  we  wish  by  all  means  to  pre- 
vent. But  how  is  it  to  be  prevented  f  Can  we  find 
them  employment  among  ourselves?  Where  this 
can  be  done,  it  is  well ;  but  the  frequent  failure  of 
the  attempt,  and  that  for  months  together,  shows 
that  this  expedient  cannot  be  depended  on.  The 
difficulty  here  is  almost  as  great  as  among  their  own 
brethren,  though  of  a  different  nature.  Their  for- 
mer habits  in  the  one  case,  and  their  present  pro- 
fession in  the  other,  present  an  eflfectual  bar  to  both. 
Unaccustomed  not  only  to  any  one  business  in  par-  ^ 


78 


FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 


ticular,  but  to  those  habits  of  business  in  general 
which  render  labor  productive,  they  rarely  furnish 
a  sufficient  inducement  to  any  person,  who  consults 
his  interest,  to  take  them  into  his  employ,  or  to  re- 
tain them  in  it.  What  then  is  to  be  done  ?  Are 
they  to  starve  f  The  voice  of  humanity  says- — *  No.' 
Are  they  to  be  supported  in  idleness  ?  The  inspired 
volume  answers  this  question  in  the  negative  ;  but 
at  the  same  time  points  out  the  way  in  which  the 
claims  of  humanity  are  to  be  regarded,  by  making 
necessary  food  the  reward  of  productive  labor.  The 
establishment  of  a  manufactory  of  some  sort  seems 
to  be  the  only  way  in  which  an  end  so  desirable  can 
be  attained,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case. 

'*  The  expediency  of  procuring  a  place  of  worship 
for  Mr.  Frey,  in  order  to  raise  a  church,  was  the 
last  thing  proposed  for  consideration.  The  desira- 
bleness of  such  a  measure  is  too  obvious  to  admit  a 
doubt,  especially  when  the  peculiarly  awkward  situ- 
ation in  which  Mr.  F.  now  stands  is  taken  into  the 
account.  He  is  a  minister  without  a  people,  a  pas- 
tor without  a  flock  ;  for  no  sooner  do  the  fruits  of 
his  ministry  appear  in  the  conversion  of  sinners  to 
Christ,  than  those  to  whom  he  has  thus  been  made 
useful  leave  him,  to  join  a  church  under  another 
pastor.  In  this  respect  he  seems  to  resemble  a  poor 
woman  who  takes  children  to  nurse,  who,  after  all 
the  care  and  fatigue  inseparably  connected  with 
the  duties  of  that  office,  is  sure  to  lose  the  objects  of 
her  affectionate  solicitude  as  soon  as  they  can  go 
alone. 

"  On  the  contrary,  were  these  young  converts 
formed  into  a  church,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
Mr.  Frey,  they  might  be  the  means  of  strengthening 
his  hands,  and  the  hands  of  one  another,  as  well  as 
of  inducing  others  to  say,  '  We  will  go  with  you, 
for  we  have  heard  that  God  is  with  you,'  " 


I&ftfiv's    NARRATIVE.  79 

MR.     L  A  N  G  T  O  N  '  S     P  I>  A  N . 

Jetvish  Free- School. 

^'  The  Missionary  Society,  in  forming  this  school, 
could  not  expect  that  the  rich  Jews,  or  even  those  in 
middling  circumstances,  would  send  their  children  ; 
they  must,  therefore,  have  their  eyes  principally 
upon  the  poor  ;  viz. 

"  First — Such  as  had  embraced  Christianity,  or 
those  who  are  indifferent  to  any  religion. 

"  Secondly — Those  who  still  remain  among  their 
own  people,  but,  on  account  of  their  poverty,  are  not 
able  to  afford  instruction. 

"  This  school,  at  present,  consists  often  children 
belonging  to  persons  of  the  first  class — -such  as  make 
some  profession  of  Christianity,  and  who  are  partly 
supported  by  the  society*  If  there  were  many  fami- 
lies of  this  description  embracing  Christianity,  the 
school  might  be  continued  on  its  present  plan  ;  but, 
according  to  present  appearances,  it  does  not  seem 
likely  that  a  succession  of  children  will  be  obtained. 

"  With  regard  to  the  second — those  that  make  no 
profession  of  Christianity — it  does  not  appear  pro- 
bable that  any  of  them  will  be  induced  to  send  their 
children  : 

"  First — On  account  of  their  natural  and  strong 
attachment  to  their  religion. 

'*  Secondly — On  account  of  I  he  restriction  they 
are  laid  under  by  their  rulers. 

"  Thirdly — Because  they  are  under  the  necessity 
of  making  their  children,  when  very  young,  attend 
to  business,  to  assist  in  supporting  the  family. 

"  The  advantages  of  the  present  plan,  even  if 
the  Jews  were  at  liberty  to  act  as  they  please,  are 
not  sufficient  to  meet  their  situation.     Education 


B6  prey's  narrative. 

alone,  however  valuable  it  may  be,  is  not  an  object 
of  sufficient  weight  in  the  esteem  of  the  poor  and 
ignorant,  to  induce  them  to  embrace  it  at  the  ex- 
pense of  any  tejnporal  advantage,  or  a  little  incon- 
veniency. 

**  If,  with  education,  some  pecuniary  advantages 
were  connected,  it  might  be  the  means  of  bringing 
several  children  under  instruction.  It  is  proposed, 
if  an  institution  was  formed  for  providing  for  Jewish 
children,  taking  them  entirely  ofTthe  hands  of  their 
parents,  it  might  answer  this  end. 

"  If  a  plan  of  this  kind  were  adopted,  to  board, 
clothe,  educate,  and  provide  situations  for  them 
amongst  Christians,  it  would  meet  the  following 
cases,  which  the  present  can  only  do  in  a  very  par- 
tial way  : 

"  First — Poor  orphan  children,  left  entirely  des- 
titute. 

**  Secondly — The  children  of  several  who  are 
very  poor,  who,  for  the  sake  of  having  them  pro- 
vided for,  would  not  mind  the  injunction  of  their 
rulers. 

"  Thirdly — The  children  of  such  as  embrace 
Christianity. 

*'  FoiLrtlily — The  children  of  foreign  Jews,  and 
such  as  reside  in  the  country. 

"  The  superior  advantages  of  this  plan  appear  in, 

"  First — The  greater  probability  of  success  in 
raising  a  Jewish  school. 

"  Secondly — In  the  education  being  more  com- 
plete in  a  moral  point  of  view.  Being  entirely  taken 
from  their  own  people,  they  would  of  course  attend 
Christian  worship,  and  in  every  respect  conform  to 
the  instructions  given  them,  without  the  danger  of 
having  them  counteracted  by  the  objections  and  ex- 
amples of  their  friends.     And  by  the  blessing  of 


,  frey's  narrative.  81 

God  on  the  means,  many,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  would 
become  eminent  Christians. 

*'  Thirdly — In  the  bettering  or  improving  their 
circumstances,  if  forty  or  fifty  children  could  be 
taken  every  two  or  three  years  from  that  degraded 
and  wretched  state  of  indigence  and  infamy  in 
which  thousands  of  the  Jews  are,  and  be  prepared 
for  filling  useful  stations  in  life,  &c.,  an  important 
end  would  be  answered." 


UY   OWN    PLAN. 

To  the  Jeivish  Committee. 

*'  With  the  utmost  reluctance  I  comply  with  the 
resolution  of  the  Auxiliary  Committee,  in  present- 
ing to  you  my  imperfect  thoughts  upon  a  subject  of 
the  greatest  importance. 

•'  It  has  pleased  God,  in  his  infinite  mercy  and 
wise  Providence,  to  choose  you  out  from  all  societies 
in  the  world  to  send  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the 
blessed  God  to  the  children  of  Abraham  residing  in 
this  country.  The  time  of  its  commencement  is 
but  short,  and  the  instrument  employed  exceedingly 
weak  and^feeble ;  but  your  labors  have  not  been  in 
vain  in  the  Lord.  Two  have  already  been  received 
members  of  the  church  of  the  living  God,  and  have 
their  conversation  as  it  becomes  the  Gospel  of 
Christ !  Five  others  are  of  that  descrrption,  that,  had 
they  been  nominal  CJuistians  instead  of  Jews,  they 
would  have  been  received  as  members  into  any 
church  without  hesitation.  Besides  these,  there  are 
several  who  regularly  attend  the  means  of  grace, 
and  give  us  pleasing  hopes  to  see  them  in  future 
among  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord. 

'^  You  have  indeed  met  with  opposition,  but  much 


82 

less  than  might  have  been  expected.  In  one  or  two 
instances  your  hopes  have  been  disappointed  ;  but 
this  is  the  experience  of  every  society. 

"  Instead   of  being   discouraged,  your    zeal    in- 
creased, and  your  endeavors  became  more  exten- 
sive.    Besides  the  weekly  lecture,  you  opened,  in 
the  last  year,  a  free-school  for  Jewish  children.  This 
is  a  new  thing  in  the  world,  and  has  been  crowned 
with  pleasing  success.     The  blessings  of  such  an 
institution   none   can   calculate.     In   a   free-school 
Luther  received  his  first  education,  who  afterwards 
became  the  great  reformer,  whose  praise  is  in  all 
the   churches   of  Christ;  and   who    can   tell  what 
great  and  glorious  work  the  Almighty  may  accom- 
plish by  one  or  more  of  these  twelve  children  now 
in  your  free-school,  daily  instructed  in  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ,  whose  progress  is  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  every  one  that  converses  with  them  ?'  *  Who 
would  despise  the  day  of  small  things  ?'  neither  God 
nor  angels.    The  company  which  no  man  can  num- 
ber, consisted  first,  most  probably,  o?  one,  the  right- 
eous Abel  ;  and  angels  rejoice  over  one  sinner  that 
repents.  Besides,  who  can  forbear  joining  the  Lord, 
saying,  '  Go  forward,'  recollecting  that  twelve  poor 
fishermen  were  the  whole  company  of  them  to  whom 
our  blessed  Lord  said,  '  Go  into  all  the  world,'  &c. ; 
and  under  one  sermon  of  Peter's,  three  thousand 
were  led  to  cry  out,  *  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?' 
We  congratulate  you,  therefore,  and  give  praise  to 
the  Lord,  who  hath  made  you  the  instruments  of 
rescuing  twelve  immortal   creatures   from  Jewish 
prejudices  and  enmity  against  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ,  in  afiording  instruction  ofthe greatest  value; 
and,  above  all,  instead  of  blaspheming  the  Lord  of 
glory,  they  are  now  singing  his  praise  from  day  to 
day.* 

■  *  After  the  lapse  of  more  than  twenty  years ,  i  t  affords  me  pecu- 
liar pleasure  *o  know  that  two  of  the  boys  then  in  the  free-schoo]^ 


FREv'a    NARRATIVE.  83 

"  But  would  you  be  satisfied  with  twelve  children 
in  the  school,  while  at  least  fifty  or  a  hundred  might 
share  in  the  same  unspeakable  blessings  ?  God  for- 
bid !  But,  upon  the  present  plan  of  the  school, 
however  desirous  the  society  may  be  to  see  the 
iiumber  of  the  children  increased^,  it  is  not  likely 
that  it  will  meet  with  success,  for  the  following  rea- 
sons : 

"  Firsl — The  children  of  the  poor  Jews  only  can 
be  expected.  This  class  of  people  generally  set  very 
little  value  upon  education,  whether  religious,  moral, 
or  civil. 

"  Second/^/ — The  children,  when  but  eight  or  nine 
years  old,  assist  in  maintaining  the  family  in  one 
way  or  other  ;  which  benefit  the  parents  would  lose 
by  sending  them  to  the  school. 

"  Ttdrdly — The  repeated  prohibitions  and  threat- 
enings  of  the  Rabbi  and  rulers  of  the  synagogue,^ 
on  whom  these  poor  Jews  are  dependent,  are  great 
hinderances  to  the  present  school. 

"  Fourthly — Some  Jews  in  the  country  might  wish 

to  have  their  children  educated,  as  Mr.  S ,  of 

B ,  who  has  made  application  for  this  purpose  ; 

but  this  is  impracticable  upon  the  present  plan. 

"  To  remove  at  once  all  these  difficulties,  and  ob- 
tain the  desirable  object,  nothing  seems  necessary 
but  to  establish  a  school  upon  a  larger  scale,  to  board, 
clothe,  and  educate  the  children  till  a  certain  age, 
and  then  bring  them  forward  into  suitable  situations 
among  Christians.  The  establishment  of  such  a 
school  is,  therefore,  submitted  to  the  most  serious 
c:)nsideration  of  the  committee,  and  it  is  lioped  will 
meet  with  the  approbation  of  the  society. 

are  now  pious  and  respectable  ministers  in  the  Episcopal 
Church  ;  anothrr  has  died  triuaipliantly  ;  and  all  the  rest  have 
become  useful  members  of  society. 


84 

"  Various  motives  could  be  mentioned  in  favor  of 
such  an  institution,  but  a  few  may  suffice  : 

**  jP/r5/— Many  parents  who  do  not  value  educa- 
tion, would  send  their  children  to  such  an  institution, 
to  be  delivered  from  the  painful  and  almost  impos- 
sible task  of  providing  for  their  daily  necessities. 

*'  Secondly — In  hopes  of  seeing  their  children  rich 
in  the  world,  and  of  receiving  supplies  from  them 
in  old  age. 

*'  Thirdly — The  influence  of  the  prohibitions  and 
threatening  of  the  Rabbi  will,  in  a  great  measure, 
cease  as  soon  as  the  parents  have  no  more  to  care 
for  but  themselves. 

"  Fourthly — The  objections  of  those  in  the  country, 
and  even  ^jw  the  continent,  as  well  as  in  London,  at 
a  distance  from  the  free-school,  are  removed  by  such 
an  institution. 

*'  Fifthly — The  children  will  not  only  be  taken 
from  the  prejudices  and  bad  examples  of  their  pa- 
rents, but  will  be  continually  under  the  care  of  the 
master,  enjoy  the  privileges  of  family  worship  and 
the  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  day. 

Si/thly — It  is  also  more  than  probable  that  the 
aflfection,  love,  and  care  to  the  children,  will  bring 
their  parents  under  the  joyful  sound  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ. 

"  Seventhly — Poor  orphans  would  find  a  place  of 
refuge  in  such  an  institution. 

*'  Eighthly — Those  families  which  are  now  a  great 
expense  to  the  society,  w^ill  be  able  to  provide  for 
themselves,  when  provision  is  made  for  their  children. 

**  It  cannot  be  reasonably  exj^ected  that  the  ex- 
penses of  such  an  institution  would  be  an  objection, 
as  long  as  it  is  written,  '  Faith,  if  but  as  a  grain  of 
mustard-seed  will  overcome  mountains  of  difficul- 
ties.' By  faith,  Professor  Franck  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  a  most  expensive  orphan-house  at  Halle,  and 


85 

was  not  confounded.  By  faith  and  exertions  the 
immortal  Whitefield  erected  spacious  tabernacles 
and  an  extensive  orphan-house.  Are  the  treasures 
of  Him  who  said,  '  The  silver  is  mine,  and  the  gold 
is  mine,'  exhausted?  or  will  the  people  of  Britain, 
so  liberal  to  every  institution,  withhold  their  mite 
from  the  Jews?  'to  whom  pertaineth  the  adoption, 
the  glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the  giving  of  the 
law,  and  the  service  of  God,  and  the  promises ; 
whose  are  the  fathers,  and  of  whom,  as  concerning 
the  flesh,  Christ  came,  who  is  over  all,  God  blessed 
for  evermore.     Amen.'  "  Rom.  9  :  4,  5. 

These  plasis  being  read  and  considered,  it  was 
resolved  that  the  last  should  be  submitted  to  the 
Jewish  Committee,  which  I  did  in  a  ^e\w  days  after. 
At  this  time  another  plan  was  submitted  to  the 
Jewish  Committee,  by  the  Ladies'  Committee,  pro- 
posing the  establishment  of  a  school  of  industry  for 
the  girls.  Both  were  taken  into  consideration,  and 
then  laid  before  the  Board  of  Directors.  Here  again 
they  were  considered  and  reconsidered,  and  much 
discussion  ensued,  some  approving  of  one  and  some 
of  the  other;  while  some  objected  against  both,  as 
too  expensive  ;  and  finally  they  were  both  rejected. 
But  as  it  was  the  general  opinion  that  something 
ought  to  be  done,  it  was  resolved  that  Mr.  Alers 
should  be  requested  to  propose  a  plan  which  might 
meet  the  ideas  of  the  directors,  and  promote  the  ob- 
jects they  had  in  view.  He  conjplied  with  this  re- 
quest ;  but  the  plan  which  he  submitted  was  similar 
to  his  former  one,  mentioned  before,  (and,  indeed, 
neither  he  nor  any  one  else  could  have  produced  a 
better,)  and  it  met,  alas  !   with  a  similar  fate. 

The  Auxiliary  Committee,  finding  their  sugges- 
tions were  wholly  laid  aside  and  neglected,  became 
discouraged,  and  never  met  again  ;  this  was  also  the 
case  with  the  Ladies'  Committee  ;  and  a  considerable 

8 


86  Prey's  narkativ£. 

time  elapsed  without  the  least  appearance  of  any 
change  in  the  system.  However,  repeated  appli- 
cations for  employment  or  support,  and  an  anxious 
desire  in  many  of  the  directors  to  promote  the  ob- 
ject of  the  Jewish  mission,  encouraged  me  to  beg, 
from  time  to  time,  a  meeting  of  the  Jewish  Com- 
mittee. 

On  February  1 2th,  1808,  the  following  resolutions 
were  passed  by  the  Jewish  Committee  : 

"  First — That  the  lease  of  the  chapel  in  Artillery- 
street  should  be  bought  for  the  use  of  the  Jews. 

"  Second — That  some  rules  or  regulations  respect- 
ing the  school  should  be  laid  before  the  committee 
at  the  next  meeting. 

*'  Third — That  Mr.  S.'s  children  w^ere  not  proper 
objects  for  the  society,  having  been  already  bap- 
tized," &c.  <fcc. 

Those  who  know  how  much  my  heart  is  set  to 
promote  the  education  of  children  in  general,  and 
especially  those  of  my  own  nation,  will  easily  per- 
ceive how  much  I  was  grieved  by  the  last  of  the  above 
resolutions  ;  but  I  humbly  submitted  to  the  decision 
of  the  directors.  However,  I  was  much  encouraged 
by  the  second  resolution,  viz.  that  something  should 
be  done  for  the  school.  The  subject  being  so  much 
upon  my  mind,  I  had  no  rest,  neither  day  nor  nights 
till  I  had  prepared  and  submitted  the  following 

"  Rules  for  a  free-school  of  Jewish  children. 

"  First — That  apartments  be  procured,  where  a 
master  and  mistress  may  be  lodged,  and  twelve 
children  be  boarded,  and  from  forty  to  fifty  children 
daily  instructed. 

*'  Second — That  twelve  children  be  boarded, 
clothed,  and  educated;  six  out  of  those  already  in 
the  school,  three  boys  and  three  girls ;    and   six  of 


8? 

those  who  shall  come  first  to  this  present  institution, 
three  boys  and  three  girls. 

*'  Third— -That  in  the  next  year,  twelve  children 
be  clothed,  besides  those  which  are  boarded,  namely, 
those  six  which  are  at  present  in  the  school,  and 
those  six  who  shall  come  first  to  the  institution. 

*'  Fourth— Tlvcit  the  number  of  those  children  to 
be  boarded,  and  those  clothed  only,  be  increased  ac- 
cording- to  the  increase  of  the  funds. 

"  Fifth — -That  suitable  employment  be  procured 
umongst  Christians  for  every  child  fourteen  years 
old. 

"  Sixth — That  vacancies  amongst  those  boarding, 
and  amongst  those  clothed  only,  be  always  supplied 
by  the  oldest  child. 

"  Seventh — That  no  child  be  admitted  into  the 
school  under  four  years. 

"  Eighth — That  the  girls  be  instructed  in  reading 
and  catechising,  two  hours  every  morning,  and  two 
hours  every  afternoon. 

*'  Ninth — That  suitable  employment  be  provided 
for  the  girls  in  the  school. 

'*  Tenth — -That  funds  be  raised  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  Jewish  Mission,  viz. 

1.  "  The  Missionary  Society  to  give  two  hundred 
pounds  out  of  their  funds. 

2.  *'  That  this  institution  be  made  known  to  the 
public  in  various  religious  publications,  in  order  to 
solicit  donations,  subscriptions  and  collections. 

3.  "  That  a  sermon  be  prea-ched,  respecting  the 
Jewish  mission,  during  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  and  that  a  collection  be  made 
for  this  fund. 

4.  "  That  two  or  three  collection  sermons  be 
preached  annually  in  London,  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 

5*  "  That  all  the  collections  made  in  future  by 


88 

Mr.  Frey  be  divided,  half  for  the  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, and  half  for  this  fund. 

*  Eleventh — That  this  fund  be  in  the  hands  of  Jo- 
seph Hardcastle,  Esq.  the  Treasurer  of  the  Mis 
sionary  Society. 

"  Twelfth — That  this  mission  be  carried  on  by 
the  Missionary  Society." 

I  greatly  longed  for  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Jewish  Committee  ;  at  length  it  arrived.  The  direc- 
tors met,  and  I  was  by  no  means  disappointed  in 
my  expectation  ;  for  I  scarcely  remember  a  more 
unanimous  meeting  than  I  witnessed  that  day. 

It  was  resolved  upon,  that  twelve  children  should 
be  taken  into  a  charity  school ;  and  I  consented  fo 
take  those  children  under  my  inspection,  to  board 
and  lodge  with  me  at  a  certain  rate  ;  and  three  of 
the  gentlemen  present  and  myself  were  appointed 
to  look  out  for  suitable  apartments,  which  we  found 
on  the  same  day.  Thus  far  all  promised  well.  But 
alas!  this  was  but  as  "  the  morning  cloud,  and  as 
the  early  dew,"  it  soon  faded  away.  The  Jewish 
Committee  not  being  invested  with  sufficient  autho- 
rity to  adopt  such  a  measure  without  the  approba- 
tion of  the  Board  of  Directors,  submitted  their  re- 
solutions to  them  on  the  following  Monday.  The 
discussion  which  took  place  on  that  evening,  (the 
most  painful  and  discouraging  I  ever  ^vitnessed,) 
was  too  long  for  me  pow  to  remember  or  relate  ;  and 
the  painful  re-ult  was,  "that  no  charity-school 
should  be  added  to  the  free-school."  Often  did  my 
heart  exclaim  with  the  prophet — "  O  that  my  head 
were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that 
I  might  weep  day  and  night  for  the  poor  ignorant 
childrenof  my  (lear  people."  Jer.  9  :  \.  The  chief, 
if  not  the  only  reason  assigned  for  refusing  this 
measure  was,  that  it  required  more  money  than 
could  be  spared  from  the  fund  of  the  society.    I  of- 


89 

fered  to  collect  all  the  money  which  such  an  institu- 
tion should  require  ;  but  an  objection  was  started, 
that  a  fund  raised  for  sujh  an  institution  was  likely 
to  injure  the  other  funds  of  the  society,  as  many 
persons  would  merely  withdraw  their  subscriptions 
from  the  one  and  give  it  to  the  other.  In  vain  did 
I  urge  against  this  objection,  that  other  institutions, 
formed  since  the  Missionary  Society,  such  as  the 
Tract  Society,  the  Bible  Society,  the  Female  Peni- 
tentiary, ifcc.  had  been  liberally  supported,  and  had 
not  in  the  least  injured  the  funds  of  the  Missionary 
Society  ;  but  even  if  there  should  be  any  reason  to 
apprehend  such  a  consequence,  I  observed,  in  the 
next  place,  there  would  be  equal  reason  for  appre- 
hending, that  if  the  public  should  hear  that  such  an 
institution  as  a  charity-school  was  wanted,  in  order 
to  insure  the  prosperity  of  the  Jewish  Mission,  but 
that  the  Missionary  Society  had  objected  to  it,  other 
persons,  wholly  separate  and  distinct  from  the  Mis- 
sionary Society,  would  most  probably  establish  such 
a  school ;  in  which  event,  the  funds  of  the  Missiona- 
ry Society  might  be  injured  much  more  extensively. 
I  had  scarcely  uttered  this  sentence,  when  I  was 
charged  with  threatening  to  establish  a  society  in 
opposition  ;  and  this  idea,  though  wholly  destitute 
of  foundation,  nothing  could  afterwards  eradicate. 

Greatly  discouraged,  I  left  the  meeting  and  went 
home,  mourning  over  the  poor  state  of  my  dear 
brethren,  perhaps  more  than  "  one  that  mourneth 
for  his  only  son  ;"  nor  w  as  I  ever  after  this  anxious 
to  meet  the  Jewish  Committee.  I  resolved  in  my 
own  mind  to  leave  the  school,  as  well  as  all  tempo- 
ral matters,  to  the  directors,  and  spend  my  whole 
time  in  things  spiritual  and  ministerial,  and  see  whe- 
ther the  mission  would  prosper  more.  I  therefore 
proceed  to  take  notice  of 

8* 


90  frey's  narrative. 

My  last  yearns  labors  under  the  patronage  of  the  Mis' 
sionary  Society, 

It  has  already  been  observed,  that  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1808,  a  resolution  was  passed,  that  the 
lease  of  the  chapel  in  Artillery-street  should  be  pur- 
chased. This  being  done,  the  place  was  opened  for 
divine  service,  April  15th,  1808,  and  I  })reachcd 
there,  and  catechised  the  children  every  Lord's  day, 
besides  an  evening  on  Fridays,  and  a  prayer-meet- 
ing on  Tuesday  evenings. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  several  of  the  directors  that 
no  other  measures  ought  to  be  resorted  to,  for  the 
conversion  of  the  Jews,  than  to  have  a  regular  place 
to  preach  in,  and  that  then  they  would  flock  to  it 
like  doves  to  their  windows.  But  alas  !  this  was  not 
the  case  in  Artillery-street.  For  a  whole  year  to- 
gether I  could  not  observe  ten  Jews  attending  at  the 
chapel,  except  those  i^Gw  who  had  wholly  separated 
themselves  from  their  brethren.  At  first,  a  very 
respectable  congregation  of  Christians  attended  the 
place,  but  having  no  ordained  minister,  and  the  or- 
dinances of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  not  being 
administered  to  them,  they  declined  by  degrees  :  nor 
was  the  want  of  pious,  prudent,  and  zealous  mana- 
gei\s  to  be  overlooked.  Things  being  in  that  state, 
and  it  appearing  to  me,  as  well  as  to  many  directors, 
that  some  more  active  and  systematic  measures  must 
be  pursued,  and  several  friends  having  offered  to 
lend  their  assistance,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Jewish 
Committee,  on  the  8th  June,  1808,  that  Messrs, 
Campion,  Cook,  Emmerson,  Hopkins,  Kingsbury, 
Langton,  Smith,  and  Stevens,  should  act  with  me 
as  a  committee  for  letting  the  seats  and  superintend- 
ing the  other  necessary  affairs  of  the  chapel  in  Artil- 
lery-street, previous  to  the  formation  of  a  church  in 
that  place. 


91 

On  the  10th  of  the  same  month  the  following 
gentlemen,  viz.  Messrs.  Campion,  Cook,  Hopkins, 
Langton,  Smith,  Stevens,  and  myself,  met  at  the 
ahove  chapel,  and  accepted  of  the  appointment. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen,  that,  amongst 
others,  was  Mr.  Langton,  the  Assistant  Secretary 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  Mr.  Stevens,  a  gen- 
tleman who  had  not  only  regularly  attended  my  mi- 
nistry amongst  the  Jews  from  its  commencement, 
but  upon  many  occasions  had  discovered  much 
anxiety  for  the  object.  This  committee,  named  a 
Chapel  Committee,  having  met  a  few  times  to  orga- 
nize a  plan  and  form  some  rules,  soon  found  them- 
selves in  the  same  predicament  as  the  Auxiliary 
Committee  before  alluded  to,  and  they  came,  on  the 
8th  of  July,  to  the  following  resolution,  viz.  "  That 
Messrs.  Stevens  and  Campion  should  request  a 
meeting  with  Messrs.  Alers  and  Hardcastle,  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  object  of  the  Missionary 
Society  in  appointing  this  committee,  and  of  the 
extent  of  the  powers  intended  to  be  vested  therein, 
and  that  they  should  report  the  same  on  Friday 
next." 

Mr.  Langton  being  considered  a  connecting  link 
between  the  two  committees,  had  been  requested  to 
be  one  of  the  deputation,  but  he  expressly  declined 
it.  Mr.  Stevens  wrote  to  Mr.  Alers,  to  request  an 
interview  for  the  above  purpose.  Fending  this  ap- 
plication, T  received  the  following  letter  from  Mr, 
Langton : 

'*Dear  Sir, 

"  The  Chapel  Committee  should  meet  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  settle  the  business  respecting  the  clerk 
and  pew-openers,  <fec.  <fec.  If  Tuesday  next  will 
suit,  I  will  be  with  you  at  any  hour;  and  you  can 
apprise  the  other  gentlemen,  whose  addresses  you 


92  FREY'S    NARRATIVE* 

know.     Do  not  forget  Mr.  Wilks'  motto — '  If  we 
cannot  do  all  the  good  we  iroidd,  let  us  do  all  ice  can.'' 
''  Wishing  you  every  blessing, 
"  I  remain,  <fec. 

"  D.  Langton. 

«'  N.  B.  Some  propositions  respecting  the  in- 
tended society  for  visiting  and  relieving  poor  Jews 
might  be  considered,  viz.  It  would  be  a  good  thing 
to  institute  a  meeting  (weekly,  once  a  fortnight,  or 
monthly)  for  religious  conversation  with  Jews.  All 
that  are  serious  might  be  invited  to  attend.  Let  them 
propose  subjects  for  discussion  ;  this  would  excite 
attention,  and  promote  a  spirit  of  inquiry,  and  would 
be  a  means  of  getting  into  the  views  of  such  as 
attend  your  ministry. 

'*  S.  poor  fund  is  another  subject  for  consideration, 
out  of  which  all  casual  applicants  might  be  relieved 
until  their  character  is  developed,  or  employment 
obtained  for  them.  This  fund,  I  think,  might  be 
raised  at  the  chapel,  and  be  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Chapel  Committee." 

Having  communicated  this  letter  to  Mr.  Stevens, 
I  received  the  following  answer  : 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  feel  much  averse  to  take  any  active  part  in 
the  business  of  the  committee,  until  we  have  had  a 
conference  with  the  members  of  the  committee  of 
the  Missionary  Society.  I  waited  long  since  upon 
Mr.  Alers,  who  promised  me  he  would  appoint  a 
meeting  for  that  purpose.  I  have  twice  written  to 
him,  and  when  I  know  what  authority  we  are  to 
have,  shall  be  able  to  decide  how  far  such  authority 
will  be  sufficient  for  the  object  we  have  in  view. 

*'  As  to  any  funds  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  Jews, 


frey's  narrative.  93 

we  must  look,  in  the  first  instance,  to  the  effect  of 
your  occasional  preaching- ;  and  unless  we  are  to 
have  the  exclusive  control  of  that,  so  far  as  relates 
to  collections  made  for  the  Jews,  I  am  of  opinion 
the  Missionary  Society  will,  without  materially  bene- 
fiting the  general  object,  totally  ruin  the  separate 
one.  They  cannot  be  united.  I  am  not  speaking 
my  own  opinion  only,  but  that  of  many  persons,  who 
are  much  more  competent  than  I  am,  but  with  whom 
I  perfectly  concur.  I  presume  I  shall  hear  from  Mr. 
Alers  before  the  first  Friday  in  August;  and  we 
shall  then  be  able  to  enter  upon  the  execution  of  our 
functions,  or  to  resign  altogether. 

"You  may  at  all  times   rely  upon    my  acquies- 
cence and  exertions  for  the  promotion  of  any  plans, 
for  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  which  my  judgment 
can  any  way  reconcile  with  those  objects. 
"  Believe  me  truly  yours, 

"I  trust,  in  the  best  of  bonds, 

"Will'm  Stevens." 

Instead  of  a  meeting  being  appointed  to  receive 
the  above  deputation,  the  Jewish  Committee  met 
on  the  14th  of  July,  1808,  and  passed  the  following- 
resolutions  : 

"  First — That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee, 
the  subscription  and  quarterly  or  monthly  collec- 
tions of  the  congregation  at  Artillery-street,  should 
be  applied  to  the  defraying  the  rent,  salaries  of  the 
clerk  and  pew-openers,  and  other  expenses,  and  the 
remainder  to  the  use  of  Mr.  Frey,  for  the  support 
of  himself  and  family. 

"  Second — It  is  also  their  opinion,  that  the  con- 
gregation be  at  liberty  to  make  collections  at  that 
place  of  worship,  and  to  promote  subscriptions 
amongst  themselves  and  others,  for  the  mission  to 
the  Jews,  in  distinction  from  the  other  objects  of  the 


94  frey's  narrative. 

Missionary  Society ;  and  that  the  sums  so  collected 
and  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  society,  shall  be 
appropriated  to  that  object  alone. 

"  Third — That  it  is  their  opinion,  that  Mr.  Frey 
should  not  make  public  collections  for  this  exclusive 
object,  without  the  concurrence  of  the  directors  of 
the  Missionary  Society. 

"  Fourth — That  it  is  the  wish  of  this  committee, 
that  suitable  persons  may  be  selected  in  the  congre- 
gation, for  the  purpose  of  distributing  such  publica- 
tions among  the  Jews  as  may  be  provided  by  this 
committee. 

"  Fifth — That  it  is  also  their  hope,  that  the  con- 
gregation will  render  assistance  to  the  Jewish  mis- 
sion, by  endeavoring  to  provide  employment  for 
such  Jews  who,  in  consequence  of  their  desire  to 
receive  instruction  in  the  Christian  religion,  may  be 
deprived  of  their  maintenance  amongst  that  people, 
■and  have  no  means  of  supporting  themselves  and 
families." 

It  appeared  very  remarkable  to  the  gentlemen 
who  were  to  compose  the  deputation,  and  to  most 
of  the  others  who  had  attended  the  Chapel  Com- 
mittee, that  all  the  preceding  resolutions  were  passed 
directly  and  pointedly  in  opposition  to  the  views  and 
objects  which  they  had  discussed,  and  which  it  was 
intended  should  be  submitted  to  the  Jewish  Com- 
mittee ;  and  they  certainly  felt  that  they  had  been 
treated  in  the  most  indelicate  manner  imaginable 
by  a  number  of  that  committee,  who,  knowing  what 
they  intended  to  suggest,  decided,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, upon  those  very  points,  without  condescend- 
ing to  give  them  the  opportunity  to  explain  their 
ideas.  The  natural  consequence  of  these  ])roceed- 
ings  was,  that  several  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  com- 
mittee, and  amongst  others,  Messrs.  Stevens,  Cam- 
pion, and  Hopkins,  immediately  resigned;    and  I 


frey's  narrative.  ^6 

have  the  most  satisfactory  reason  for  believing  that 
they  then  rehnquished  every  idea  of  having  any  part 
whatever  in  tlie  affairs  of  the  Jews. 

From  the  foregoing  resolution,  I  was  more  fully 
convinced  than  ever  tliat  the  Jewish  Committee  had 
either  no  inclination,  or  no  power,  to  alter  their  sys- 
tem of  carrying  on  the  Jewish  mission  ;  and,  upon 
the  old  plan,  I  was  sure,  from  the  fatal  experience 
I  had  had,  that  no  good  could  be  done. 

Shortly  afterwards,  however,  a  circumstance  oc- 
curred which  was  wholly  unforeseen  by  me,  and  as 
unexpected  by  the  persons  concerned.  Dr.  D.  had 
lately  withdrawn  himself  from  his  ministerial  func- 
tions in  London ;  the  consequence  of  which  had 
been,  that  a  society,  formed  under  his  auspices,  and 
of  which  he  had  been  president  for  a  considerable 
length  of  time,  became  dissolved,  and  several  of 
the  subscribers  to  that  institution  were  desirous  of 
continuing  their  subscriptions  in  aid  of  some  other 
charity. 

Under  the  discouraging  circumstances  before  al- 
luded to,  the  reader  will  not  wonder  to  find  that  I 
readily  embraced  a  proposal  made  to  me  by  Mr. 
Stevens  and  another  gentleman,  (both  of  whom  had 
been  subscribers  to  Dr.  D.'s  society,)  namely,  to 
form  "  A  society  for  visiting  and  relieving  the  sick 
and  distressed,  and  instructing  the  ignorant,  espe- 
cially such  as  were  of  the  Jewish  nation."  Nor  did 
I  see  any  objection  which  could  be  made  by  the 
Missionary  Society  to  such  an  institution. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1808,  the  above-named 
gentlemen,  with  eight  others,  united  together  in  the 
formation  of  the  "  London  Society^^^  for  the  above- 
mentioned  purposes,  and  they  did  me  the  honor  to 
nominate  me  as  their  president. 

As  many  ill-natured  observations  had  been  made 
upon  this  subject,  it  is  right  for  me  to  state  that 


96  frey's  narrative. 

which  can  be  proved,  if  necessary,  viz.  that  I  ex- 
pressly objected  to  this  nomination,  for  several  rea- 
sons, both  public  and  private ;  but  the  gentlemen 
expressing  a  strong  wish  that  I  should  accept  of  it. 
in  conformity  with  the  plan  upon  which  Dr.  Dra- 
per's society  had  been  constructed,  and  which  had 
been  dissolved  only  because  he  had  withdrawn,  and 
because  they  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  other 
minister  who  would  accept  of  the  presidency,  I  felt 
it  my  duty  to  acquiesce. 

From  the  original  title  mentioned  in  the  prece- 
ding page,  and  plan  of  the  society,  and  from  the  re- 
solutions sent  to  the  Missionary  Society,  it  will  be 
distinctly  seen  that  nothing  was  farther  from  the 
minds  of  the  gentlemen  who  composed  it,  than 
"rivalry,"  or  "opposition"  to  the^^Missionary  So- 
ciety ;  and  nothing  less  anticipated,  or  desired,  than 
that  the  weight  of  the  Jewish  mission  would  (as  the 
event  has  proved)  devolve  upon  them. 

About  the  same  period  I  received  a  call  from  the 
church  of  Christ  in  Artillery-street,  signed  by  sixty- 
two  names,  to  be  their  pastor. 

On  the  Cth  of  August  I  received  the  following 
letter  from  Mr.  Alers,  which  was  the  only  intima- 
tion Mr.  vStevens  or  Mr.  Campion  ever  received  of 
any  intended  meeting,  (no  answer  having  been  sent 
to  the  letter  of  the  former,)  and  which,  it  will  be 
observed,  was  more  than  three  weeks  after  the  aj)- 
plication  for  it,  and  subsequent  to  the  formation  of 
the  new  society. 

"  Dear  Frey, 

*'  I  have  been  desirous  of  appointing  a  meeting 
with  Mr.  Hardcastle,  to  have  the  conversation  with 
Mr.  Stevens  v»'hich  he  has  requested  ;  but  the  pres- 
sure of  business  has,  from  time  to  time,  postponed 
it.     Mr.  Hardcastle  is  gone  out  of  town  for  some 


97 

days ;  when  he  returns,  we  will  try  to  have  the 
meeting.  Give  my  compliments  to  Mr.  Stevens,  and 
tell  him  how  matters  stand. 

"  Yours  truly, 

'*  W.  Alers. 

''August  6tfi,  1808." 

Mr.  Stevens  and  myself,  in  consequence  of  this 
letter,  waited  upon  Mr.  Alers,  to  inform  him  of  the 
formation  of  the  "  London  Society,"  and  to  explain 
to  him  more  particularly  the  nature  and  design  of 
the  institution  ;  and  expressed  the  earnest  desire 
of  its  members  that  it  might  be  carried  on  in  imion 
and  harmony  with  the  Missionary  Society.  On  the 
next  day  I  sent  the  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  G. 
Burder : 

*'  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  inform  you,  as 
Secretary  to  the  Missionary  Society,  that  the  church 
of  Christ,  Artillery-street,  has  given  me  a  call  to 
the  office  of  pastor  among  them.  According  to  a 
resolution*  of  the  directors,  I  am  at  liberty  to  accept 
of  the  invitation  but  the  restrictions  and  limitations 
contained  in  that  resolution,  I  do  not  fully  under- 
stand.    To  be  connected  with  the  Missionary  So- 

*  Resolution  passed  by  the  Directors  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety, June  8th,  1808  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee,  that  Mr. 
Frey  should  be  ordained,  generally,  to  the  Christian  ministr}', 
hut  with  an  especial  reference  to  its  exercise  to  the  Jewish 
•peoples  and  that,  in  the  event  of  his  receiving  an  invitation  to 
the  pastoral  office  over  the  society  in  Artillery-street,  he  is  at 
liberty  to  accept  it,  subject  to  such  "restrictions  and  limita- 
tions" as  may  preserve  his  connexion  with  the  Missionary 
Society  inviolate,  and  may  consist  with,  thede^'ree  of  attention 
to  his  Christian  ministry  among'  the  Jews,  which  the  directors 
and  himself  consider  to  he  his  first  and  most  important 
object. '^ 

9 


98 

ciety,  and  to  be  alilvisecl  by  its  directors,  I  considtir 
my  hii^hest  honor  and  greatest  privilege  ;  and  I  shall 
consider  myself,  as  long  as  I  live,  to  be  under  the 
greatest  obligations  to  farther  the  objects  of  the 
Missionary  Society  ;  for,  truly,  their  kindness  to  me 
and  my  family  has  been  exceeding  great.  But  if 
the  directors  mean  to  '  restrain'  me  from  uniting 
with  others,  and  to  *  limit^*  my  exertions  for  the  hcnejit 
of  the  Jeics,  I  shall  then  be  under  the  painful  necessity 
of  leaving  the  Missionary  Society,  and  accept  of  th<^ 
call  abovementioned,  and  be  ordained  as  an  inde- 
pendent minister.  I  am  going  to  Bedford  to-mor- 
row, and  expect  to  be  in  town  again  next  Thursday, 
God  willing. 

"  I  am,  sir,  yours  most  sincerely, 

"C.  F.  Frey. 

"  August  18,  1808." 

On  the  23d  of  August,  Mr.  Alers  wrote  to  Mr. 
Stevens  the  following  letter : 

"Dear,  Sir, 

"  A  letter  from  Mr.  Frey,  in  connection  with  the 
report  of  the  conversation  I  had  with  you  last  Tues- 
day evening,  came  under  consideration  in  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  at  yesterday's  meeting  of  the  di- 
rectors ;  they  have,  in  consequence,  appointed  Mr. 
Hardcastle,  myself,  and  two  or  three  other  gentle- 
men, to  confer  with  you  and  your  friends  on  the  sub- 
ject generally  ;  and  I  have  accordingly  written  to 
Mr.  Fearn,  your  treasurer,  to  ask  if  it  will  be  agree- 


*  I  should  rather  have  used  the  word  "  hinder,'''^  instead  of 
^Uimit"  which  would  perhaps  have  expressed  my  idea  in  a 
plainer  manner;  but  I  had  an  eye  to  the  words  "restrictions 
and  hmitations,"  used  in  the  precedini^  resolution  of  the  di- 
rectors. 


99 

able  for  him  and  his  friends  to  meet  us  at  my  house, 
at  half  past  ten  in  the  forenoon,  on  Monday  next, 
for  that  purpose.  I  hope  you  will  be  present.  Should 
it  be  inconvenient  to  you  or  Mr.  Fearn,  you  will 
please  to  mention  a  time  when  it  will  suit  you. 
*'I  am,  dear  sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"W.  Alers." 

I  am  informed  that  BIr.  Stevens  and  Mr.  John 
Pearce  attended  the  appointment,  at  which  several 
directors  of  the  Missionary  Society  were  present  ;* 
and  I  understand  the  result  of  that  meeting  was, 
that  the  Missionary  Society  should  propose  and  sub- 
mit some  resolutions  to  the  committee  of  the  London 
Society,  with  a  view  that  the  latter  should  be  estab- 
lished upon  such  a  footing  as  might,  in  the  judgment 
of  the  former,  enable  them  to  act  in  union  ;  but  the 
principal  objection  then  urged  by  the  directors  of  the 
Missionary  Society  was,  that  in  the  address  of  the 
London  Society  sufficient  mention  had  not  been 
made  of  the  labors  and  exertions  of  the  Missionary 
Society,  with  reference  to  the  Jews.  Mr.  Stevens 
and  Mr.  Pearce. did  not  hesitate  to  point  out,  as  de- 
hcately  as  possible,  many  objections  to  the  system 
which  the  Missionary  Society  had  pursued  ;  whilst 
they  expressed  their  utmost  willingness  to  adopt  any 
measures  they  consistently  could  to  remove  this 
objection  and  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society,  provided  the  London  Society  was 
left  at  liberty  to  purs!ie  its  own  plans ;  and  to  this 
object,  and  this  object  alone,  it  was  then  understood, 
the  intended  resolutions  of  the  Missionary  Society 
were  to  apply. 

*  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Bock,  Campbell,  Townsend,  Wilks,  and 
Messrs,  Hardcastle,  Abert:,  RayVier,  T.  Pellatt,  n.nd  Langtou. 


100  frey's  narrative. 

From  the  moment  that  the  Missionary  Society 
intimated  an  unpleasant  feeling  at  the  formation  of 
the  London  Society,  and  expressed  a  wish  that  mea- 
sures should  be  adopted  for  a  cordial  union,  the  Lon- 
don Society  felt  themselves  bound  to  show  so  much 
respect  to  the  Missionary  Society  as  to  suspend  all 
their  operations,  and  in  fact  abstained  from  distri- 
buting their  plans,  or  applying  to  the  public  ;  and 
they  waited  patiently  till  the  20th  of  September, 
before  they  received  the  following  resolutions  : 

''^Resolutions  of  the  Missionary  Society, 

*'  The  formation  of  a  new  society,  adopting  ob- 
jects which  have  been  already  embraced  by  an  in- 
stitution previously  established,  aj)plying  also  to  the 
liberality  of  the  public  for  support,  (and  especially  if 
its  president  shall  have  seceded  from  the  original 
society,)  has  so  much  the  appearance  oi  rivalry  and 
opposition^  that  the  impression  made  by  it  on  the 
public  mind  will  most  probably  be  prejudicial  to  both 
institutions,  as  well  as  to  the  objects  which  they  mutu- 
ally desire  to  promote.  JNevertheless,  the  zealous  and 
active  endeavors  of  Christians,  although  not  in  direct 
connection  with  the  original  society  in  promoting  the 
same  cause,  are  to  be  considered  as  beneficial,  pro- 
vided they  arc  carried  in  a  manner  which,  instead 
of  enfeebling  the  efforts  already  made,  shall  tend  to 
promote  union  and  energy  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
great  object  in  view. 

"  On  these  principles  the  directors  of  the  Mission- 
ary Society  are  desirous  to  act ;  and  they  are  of 
opinion  that  the  new  committee,  without  distracting 
the  public  attention  by  proposing  another  institution 
for  purposes  already  adequately  provided  for,  so  far 
as  they  are  practicable,  may  employ  themselves  to 
advantage  in  carrying  into  greater  effect  the  measures 


itrey's  narrative.  10^ 

already  adopted  by  the  Missionary  Society  ;  and  they 
particularly  recommend  to  their  benevolent  attention 
the  following  points  : 

^^  First — Visiting  and  relieving  poor  Jews  in  a 
state  of  sickness,  to  whom  they  can  obtain  access. 

"  Second — The  distribution  of  such  religious  tracts 
among  them  as  may  he  approved, 

•'  Third — Conversing  with  such  Jews  as  may  hG 
desirous  of  receiving  further  instruction  in  the  Chris- 
tian religion  ;  and  in  holding  meetings  for  prayer,  as 
frequently  as  may  be  convenient. 

"  Fo^tri'/^— Providing  employment  for  such  Jews 
as  may  have  been  deprived  of  the  means  of  subsistence, 
in  consequence  of  their  having  attended  on  the  Christian 
ministry  ;  and  in  the  mean  time  affording  them  such 
relief  as  may  be  requisite. 

"  In  order  to  carry  into  eifect  these  desirable  mea- 
sures, in  coincidence  v/ith  the  am.icable  princijiles 
already  laid  down,  the  directors  propose  the  follow- 
ing regulations : 

*'  ].  That  the  funds  necessary  for  these  purposes 
be  raised  by  private  subscriptions,  and  by  collections 
made  at  the  meetinf^  in  Artillery-street  ;   but  that 

1    •         ■         T 

jiublic  collections,  at  other  places  of  worship  in  l^on- 
don  or  in  the  country,  be  not  made  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  directors  of  the  Missionary  Society. 
Should  it  be  found  that  the  due  prosecution  of  any 
of  the  objects  before  mentioned  shall  require  assist- 
ance to  be  afforded  to  the  funds  thus  raised,  the 
Missionary  Society  will  contribute  thereto. 

*'  2.  That  such  funds  shall  be  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a  treasurer  to  be  appointed  by  the  new  commit- 
tee, and  application  be  made  thereof  as  may  be  di- 
rected by  that  committee. 

"  3-  The  printed  address  and  plan,  at  present  pub- 
lished by  the  London  Society,  to  receive  such  alter- 
ations as  may  be  adapted  to  convince  the  public  that 


102  frey's  narrative. 

it  is  the  intention  of  its  members  to  act  in  a  most 
friendly  alliance  with  the  Missionary  Society. 

'*  That  the  new  committee  he  requested  to  report 
to  the  directors  of  the  Missionary  Society,  every 
three  months,  the  progress  which  they  make,  and 
the  measures  which  they  have  adopted,  or  may  have 
in  contemplation,  in  order  to  promote  the  object." 

These  resolutions  were  taken  into  consideration, 
October  the  13th  ;  and  having  been  referred  to  a 
select  committee  to  prepare  an  answer,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  prc.-;ented  to  and  approved  by 
the  committee  of  the  London  Society,  October  the 
20th,  and  transmitted  to  Mr.  Alers  a  few  days  af- 
terwards. 

*'  Resolutions  of  the  London  Society. 

*'  The  committee  of  the  London  Society  have  de- 
layed their  re^ily  to  the  resolutions  of  the  Missionary 
Society,  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  give  the  de- 
liberate consideration  due  to  the  importance  of  the 
subject,  and  to  the  character  of  the  individuals  com- 
posing the  Missionary  Society. 

"  The  committee  observe,  with  grateful  pleasure, 
the  friendly  disposition  expressed  towards  them  by 
the  Missionary  Society,  and  they  embrace  the  op- 
portunity to  declare  how  sincerely  they  are  desirous 
of  cultivating  the  good  will  and  assistance  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  by  every  means  consistent  with 
the  objects  they  have  in  view,  and  that  they  will  be 
at  all  times  happy  to  receive  countenance  from  the 
society,  and  advantage  from  their  experience;  the 
committee,  therefore,  especially  regret  that  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  have  not  specified  the  alterations 
which  they  wish  to  be  made  in  the  address  and  plan 
published  by  the  London  Society,  whereby  the  com- 


103 

mlttee  are  prevented  from  exercising  any  judgment 
on  the  subject. 

"The  committee  are  possessed  of  information 
which  they  are  not  at  Hberty  to  disclose,  which  in- 
duces them  to  consider  the  present  application,  on 
the  part  of  the  Missionary  Society,  as  premature ; 
and  they  are  particularly  inclined  to  that  supposi- 
tion, because,  until  Mr.  Frey  separates  himself  from 
the  Missionary  Society,  the  principal  objection,  on 
the  part  of  that  society,  to  the  independent  exer- 
tions of  the  members  of  the  present  institution,  will 
not  arise  ;  and  the  committee  therefore  submit,  that 
the  questions  between  Mr.  Frey  and  the  Missionary 
Society  (with  which  questions  the  London  Society 
are  not  in  any  wise  connected)  should  be  disposed 
of  before  the  committee  can  decide  upon  the  line  of 
conduct  to  be  adopted. 

"  The  members  of  the  committee  have  long  view- 
ed, with  regret,  the  declining  state  of  the  Jewish 
affairs  under  the  care  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
arising,  as  they  conceive,, from  the  multiplicity  of 
objects  to  which  the  benevolent  attention  of  that 
society  is  directed  ;  and  they  are  compelled  to  de- 
clare, that  when  they  had  formed  themselves  into 
a  society,  with  a  view  to  co-operation,  and  not  of 
rivalry,  they  did  not  anticipate  anxiety  or  impatience 
on  the  part  of  the  Missionary  Society,  at  their  ex- 
ertion to  the  same  beneficial  end,  which  had  so  long 
and  so  laudably,  although  so  unsuccessfully,  enga- 
ged the  efforts  of  that  society. 

*'  The  full  consideration  which  the  committee  have 
bestowed  upon  the  late  communication  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society,  has  not  induced  them  to  apprehend 
an  injury  to  the  cause  which  they  have  united  to  sup- 
port, from  the  existence  of  the  two  societies,  and 
from  their  independent  efforts  to  the  same  end  ;  but 
they  are  inclined  to  hope  much  good  therefrom,  for 


104  frey's  narrative. 

the  following  reasons,  which  they  submit  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Missionary  Society  : 

"  That  the  various  objects  which  divide  and  dis- 
tract the  attention  of  the  Missionary  Society,  have 
prevented  them  from  bestowing  that  consideration 
upon  the  subject  which  is  due  to  t\\e  importance  of 
the  cause,  and  therefore  that  the  Jewish  affairs 
cannot  be  carried  on  with  the  same  advantnge  by 
the  Missionary  Society,  as  by  a  society  whose  atten- 
tion is  undividedly  directed  to  one  end. 

*'  That  the  Missionary  Society  are,  in  a  great 
measure,  confined  to  the  pulpits  of  the  independent 
connexion,  and  have  not  a  free  access  to  those  of  the 
established  church,  and  of  other  numerous  bodies  of 
Christians  who  would  be  willing  to  contribute  their 
assistance  to  a  society  formed  for  the  purposes  and 
upon  the  principles  of  the  London  Society. 

"  That  many  individuals  withhold  their  subscrip- 
tions simply  upon  the  ground  that  the  Jewish  affairs 
are  under  the  direction  of  either  professed,  or  by 
reputation,  dissenters. 

•*'  That  there  have  been,  for  some  time,  two  Bible 
Societies,  and  that  there  are  now  several  Missionary 
Societies,  yet  experience  has  not  shown  that  the 
object  they  have  in  view  has  received  injury  from 
that  circumstance. 

"  That  although  the  committee  arc  not  desirous 
to  impeach  the  conduct  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
yet  that  they  are  of  opinion  many  important  objects 
have  been  overlooked  by  that  society  ;  and  as  they 
cannot  impute  that  circumstance  to  want  of  atten- 
tion and  information,  they  conclude  that  there  would 
be  a  probability  that  similar  measures,  suggested  by 
the  committee,  would  not  be  likely  to  receive  the 
countenance  and  adoption  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
and  are  therefore  of  opinion,  that  the  exertions  of 
the  new  society  would  thereby  be  impeded. 


105 

^'  That  though  it  bo  possible  that  the  efforts  of 
the  London  Society  may  eventually  prove  as  fruit- 
less as  those  of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  that 
they  may  arrive  at  the  same  unpleasant  conclu- 
sion, yet  having,  from  a  train  of  circumstances, 
chiefly  induced  by  the  Missionary  Society  them- 
selves, been  led  to  the  formation  of  the  present  in- 
stitution, they  feel  bound  to  persevere,  and  that  they 
do  not  perceive  the  advantage  which  can  arise  from 
identifying  themselves  with  the  Missionary  Society, 
who  have  pursued  the  same  object  with  so  little 
effect. 

*'  That  the  committee  do  not  perceive  that  it  is 
inconsistent  for  Mr.  Frey  to  preside  in  their  society, 
and  retain  his  relation  to  the  Missionary  Society. 
The  committee  can  perceive  an  impropriety  in  two 
rival  houses  of  commerce  employing  the  same  agent, 
because  their  objects  are  inimical;  but  the  committee 
do  not  perceive  why  two  or  more  societies,  having 
the  same  object  in  view,  may  not  avail  themselves 
of  the  information  and  experience  of  the  same  in- 
dividual. 

*'  The  committee  consider  this  as  an  answer  to 
all  the  objections  of  the  Missionary  Society  upon 
this  point,  except  as  they  refer  to  the  question  of 
making  public  collections  ;  v.'ith  respect  to  which, 
the  committee  refer  to  their  second  observation, 
and  they  desire  to  add,  that  if  Mr.  Frey  should  re- 
main with  the  Missionary  Society,  it  will  not  be  dif- 
ficult to  arrange  the  terms,  and  the  extent  to  which 
he  shall  be  at  liberty  to  make  such  collections  for 
them,  which,  however,  must  in  that  case  be  de- 
fined, and  not  left  to  the  arbitrary  discretion  of  the 
Missionary  Society. 

''  The  Missionary  Society  will  perceive,  by  the 
address  and  plan  of  the  London  Society,  that  the 
four  objects   recommended  to  their  notice  by  the 


106  frey's  narrative. 

Missionary  Society,  liave  not  escaped  their  atten- 
tion ;  but  although  the  committee  have  not,  as  yet, 
and  that  principally  from  the  respect  which  they 
felt  themselves  bound  to  pay  to  the  application  of 
the  Missionary  Society,  defined  any  plan  of  opera- 
tion, they  are  free  to  confess  that  their  views  extend 
considerably  beyond  the  particulars  to  which  the 
Missionary  Society  desire  to  restrict  them,  and  that 
it  is  not  their  intention  to  shrink  from  any  promising 
object  which  may  j)resent  itself;  and  as  7W.  one  in- 
dividual had  originally  any  intention  to  form  such  a 
society  as  the  pyrsent^  they  consider  it  within  the  order 
of  Divine  Providence  ;  and  they  cannpt  but  indulge 
the  pleasing  prospect  of  being  the  honored  means 
of  rescuing  some  individuals  at  least  from  the  bane- 
ful effects  of  Jewish  prejudice-  With  respect  to  the 
contributions  of  the  Missionary  Society,  proposed 
as  an  equivalent  for  collections,  the  idea  necessarily 
supposes  a  previous  communication  of  purpose  and 
object,  and  the  approbation  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety. In  addition  to  the  improbability  of  obtaining 
ssich  approbation,  to  which  the  committee  have  be- 
fore alkided,  they  must  observe  that  such  commu- 
nications will  unavoidably  create  great  and  continual 
delay,  and  thus  enfeeble  the  exertions  of  the  Lon- 
don Society  ;  and  the  committee  must  be  allowed 
(with  the  utmost  deference)  to  express  their  opinion 
that  the  dependence  of  the  Jewish  Committee  upoii 
the  General  Committee  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
and  the  small  de^nee  of  independent  action  vested 
in  the  former,  has  been  one  fundamental  error  in 
the  system  pursued  by  the  Missionary  Society,  and 
has  been  a  material  obstruction  to  the  good  which 
might  otherwise  have  been  expected. 

"  The  committee  are  fearful  that  the  Missi.onary 
Society  may  consider  some  of  the  expressions  as 
intrusive    and   impertinent ;    they,  however,    have 


frey's  narrative.  107 

avoided  all  animadversions  upon  the  conduct  and 
system  pursued  by  the  Missionary  Society,  as  fur  as 
was  consistent  with  an  anxious  desire  to  explain 
fully  and  candidly  to  the  Missionary  Society  the 
motives  by  which  tliey  were  actuated. 

"  The  London  and  Missionary  Societies  have  but 
one  common  object  ;  and  the  committee  will  always 
desire  to  preserve  the  strictest  harmony  and  friend- 
ship with  the  Missionary  Society,  and  to  refrain  in 
public  from  any  thing  tending  to  throw  imputation 
upon  that  respectable  body,  or  their  laudable  en- 
deavors, that  so  the  great  end  they  pursue  ma}'  be 
promoted,  and  not  obstructed  by  their  joint  exer- 
tions ;  and  the  committee  will  be  happy  to  take  into 
consideration  any  alterations  which  may  occur  to 
the  Missionary  Society,  as  necessary  to  show  the 
public  that  nothing  is  farther  from  the  intention  of 
the  committee  than  '  hostility  and  rivalry'  to  the 
Missionary  Society." 

These  resolutions  of  the  London  Society  soon 
produced  a  summons  for  me  to  meet  the  directors 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  to  take  into  considera 
tion  my  letter  of  the  18th  of  August.  I  went  and 
informed  them,  that  since  I  had  sent  that  letter,  se- 
veral circumstances  had  transpired,  which,  most 
likely,  would  supersede  the  necessity  of  their  taking 
that  letter  into  consideration ;  of  which  circumstances 
I  hoped  to  give  them  information  in  a  few  days.  On 
the  14tli  of  November  I  informed  the  directors  that 
I  was  now  able  to  make  that  communication  to 
them  ;  in  answer  to  which,  1  was  directed  to  make 
it  by  letter  addressed  to  the  Rev.  John  Townsend, 
the  Chairman  of  the  Jewish  Committee.  Accord- 
ingly I  wrote  a  letter,  submitted  it  to  several  of  the 
directors,  and  made  such  alterations  as  they  sug- 
gested, and  then  sent  it  as  follows 


108 


"  To  the  Rev.  John  Townsend. 

"Dear  Sir, 

*'  Having  been  informed  by  Mr.  Burder,  that  my 
intended  communication  to  the  Missionary  Society 
is  to  be  made  to  you,  as  the  Chairnian  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Examination,  I  take  the  liberty  of  stating 
to  you  the  following  particulars  : 

"  It  is  now  seven  years  since  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety expressed  their  vvi?h  to  promote  the  conversion 
of  my  poor  brethren  the  Jews,  by  establishing  a 
mission  for  that  purpose.  This,  their  benevolent 
wish,  has  been  more  fully  expressed  within  the  last 
three  years,  by  their  frequent  addresses,  both  from 
the  pulpit  and  from  the  press. 

"  When  this  laudable  design  was  first  proposed 
to  me,  my  heart  leaped  for  joy,  my  mouth  was  filled 
with  praise,  and  my  whole  soul  was  devoted  to, the 
work  ;  and  I  can  now  humbly  appeal  to  the  Searcher 
of  hearts,  that  all  my  private  and  public  exertions 
since,  have  been  with  a  single  eye  to  promote  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  my  brethren  according  to  the 
flesh. 

"  From  the  joint  endeavors  of  the  Missionary 
Society  and  myself,  it  might  have  been  expected 
that  some  happy  eflects  would  have  been  produced 
before  this  time  ;  but,  alas  !  we  may  adopt  Isaiah's 
lamentation,  '  Who  has  believed  our  report,  and  to 
whom  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed  ?"  W^e  have 
labored  in  vain,  we  have  spent  our  strength  for 
naught.'  The  natural  inquiry  will  be,  what  is  the 
cause  of  our  disappointment?  Notwithstanding  the 
Gospel  has  been  preached  three  years,  and  is  now 
preached  four  times  a  week,  professedly  to  the  Jews, 
yet  there  are  not  five  of  them  that  attend  regularly  : 
and  though  a  free-school  has  been  opened  for  nearly 


frey's  narrative.  109 

two  years,  yet  there  are  but  few  children  that  re- 
ceive instruction.  Is  it  not  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance, dear  sir,  that  this  cause  should  be  first  found 
out,  and  then  to  employ  those  means  by  which  it 
may  be  eradicated  ?  This  has  occupied  much  of 
my  time,  and  I  am  fully  convinced  that  it  is  infi- 
delity and  the  yi?ar  of  men.  The  former  is  generally 
to  be  found  amongst  those  Jews  who  have  received 
education,  /.  e.  are  able  to  read  and  write,  and  are 
in  some  measure  prosperous  in  the  world.  These 
are  careless  in  matters  of  religion,  and  must  be 
roused  by  suitable  tracts,  and,  if  possible,  to  enter 
with  them  into  controversy. 
/"  The  latter,  which  is  the  fear  of  men,  is  more 
prevalent  amongst  the  poor  and  ignorant,  (nor  are 
the  former  altogether  free  from  it,)  which  form,  by 
far,  the  greatest  part  of  the  Jews  in  England  ;  nay, 
I  may  say,  amongst  the  Jewish  nation  at  large.  It 
is  chiefly  amongst  this  class  of  Jews  we  must  look 
for  success  at  first,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but,  after- 
wards, some  of  the  rich,  the  wise,  and  the  mighty, 
will  listen  to  the  joyful  sound. 

*'  That  many  of  my  dear  brethren  have  been  pre- 
vented from  hearing  the  glorious  Gospel,  and  from 
sending  their  children  to  the  school,  solely  from  the 
fear  of  men,  is  so  evident,  that  it  would  be  highly 
unnecessary  to  adduce  proofs  in  this  letter.  It  is  of 
greater  importance  to  point  out  means  by  which 
they  arc  likely  to  be  delivered  from  this  destructive 
evil. 

"  Here  I  would  first  observe,  as  I  have  often 
done,  that  I  abhor  the  idea  of  giving  money  to  any 
JeiVy  irhatever  be  his  professio7i.  Whenever  1  begged 
for  them,  it  was  because  there  was  no  other  pro- 
vision made.  But  the  plan  to  be  adopted  is  this  : 
That  young  men  and  women,  boys  and  girls,  be 
bound  apprentices  j  that  employment  be  found  for 

10 


no 

others  ;  and  that  a  charity-school  be  added  to  th£» 
free-school. 

**  This,  dear  sir,  has  been  my  sentiment  from  the 
beginning,  and  has  been  greatly  strengthened  by 
thesi;  three  years'  painful  experience.  About  twelve 
mmitlis  after  the  free-school  was  opened,  without 
the  addition  of  a  single  child,  I  laid  a  similar  plan 
before  the  directors.  It  was  taken  into  frequent 
consideration,  and  at  last  approved  of  by  the  Jewish 
Committee,  l)ut  it  was  rejected  or  deferred  by  the 
Board  of  Directors.  Greatly  disappointed,  and 
much  discouraged,  I  left  the  meeting  that  evening, 
and  resolved  that,  in  future,  I  would  only  take  care 
of  the  spiritual  part  of  the  mission,  and  leave  the 
temporal  affairs  to  the  management  of  the  direc- 
tors. But,  alas  !  a  considerable  time  has  elapsed 
without  the  least  appearance  of  [uobability  that 
such  a  plan  would  be  adopted  by  the  Missionary 
Society. 

*'  But,  of  late,  my  hopes  revived,  and  I  am  much 
encouraged  at  finding  several  most  res{>ectable  per- 
sons in  the  established  church,  not  only  approve  of 
the  plan  mentioned  in  the  former  part  of  this  letter, 
but  are  likewise  willing  to  exert  themselves  to  raise 
a  fund  for  that  purpose.  But  you  will  please  to  ob- 
serve, that  they  could  by  no  means  unite  with  the 
mission  to  the  .Tews,  except  it  be  loholly  separated 
from  the  mUsion  to  the  heathen^  and  that  a  society  be 
formed  from  among  the  directors  of  the  Missionary 
Society,  and  others  whom  they  may  think  proper  to 
associate  with  themselves,  having  for  its  object  the 
conversion  of  the  Jews  to  the  Christian  faith.  That 
the  society  be  empowered  to  solicit  j)econiary  assist- 
ance from  the  public,  and  apply  the  same  to  the 
aforementioned  plan,  and  other  means  that  may  be 
pointed  out  and  approved  by  the  committee. 

♦*  These  things,  dear  sir,  I  have  taken  the  liberty 


rXEY  8    NARRATIVE. 


Ill 


of  Stating  to  you,  and  hope  they  will  be  taken  into 
the  serious  consideration  of  the  directors. 

"  Should  the  Missionary  Society  be  pleased  to  con- 
sent to  this,  there  would  be  no  need  of  the  London 
Society.  The  mission  would,  most  probably,  receive 
great  assistance  from  the  establishment :  and  with 
respect  to  myself,  I  would  most  gladly  continue  as  a 
missionary  to  the  Jews.  But  if  this  is  declined,  I 
cannot  see  of  what  use  I  can  be  to  the  Jewish  mis- 
sion, on  the  plan  on  which  it  has  been  hiiherio  con- 
ducted. 

**It  is  my  most  sincere  wish,  and  most  earnest 
prayer,  that  such  a  society  may  be  formed,  that  I  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  employing,  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Missionary  Society,  my  time,  talents,  and 
strength,  that  God  may  be  pleased  to  give  me,  in 
promoting  the  conversion  of  my  poor  unbelieving 
brethren  of  the  house  of  Israel. 

**  Please  to  pardon  every  imperfection  in  this  let- 
ter, and  believe  me  to  be, 

"  Dear  sir,  your  most  willing, 

"And  obedient  servant, 

"C-  F.  Frey. 

'«Abt;«n6cr28,  1808." 


This  letter  was  considered  by  th«  directors,  both 
in  my  presence  and  absence  ;  and  in  answer  to  it,  I 
was  informed  by  a  note  from  the  assistant  secretary, 
**that  the  directors  had  raised  my  salary  to  two  hun- 
dred pounds  a  year ;  and  that  they  had  passed  tho 
following:  resolution : 


"imo/  Dec.  1808. 
**  Resolved^  That  the  directors  are  earnestly  de- 
sirous of  persevering,  with  increased  activity,  in  all 
legitimate  methods  of  instructing  the  Jews  in  tho 


112  frey's  narrative. 

knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion.  They  will  also 
continue  to  afford  all  suitable  relief  to  those  Jews 
who  shall  appear  to  have  suffered  by  their  embracing 
Christianity  :  but  they  are  of  opinion  that  the  pro- 
position submitted  by  Mr.  Frey,  which  respects  the 
taking  of2)oor  children  from  their  parents^  in  order  to 
maintain  them  in  a  charity-school^  and  to  educate  them 
as  Christians,  is  ineligihle;  especially  as  there  is  al- 
ready a  free-school,  supported  by  the  Missionary 
Society,  for  the  instruction  of  all  those  Jewish  chil- 
dren who  are  disposed  to  attend." 

To  this  resolution  I  wrote  the  following  letter  : 

**  To  the  Rev,  G.  Burdery  Secretary  to  the  Missionary 

Society, 
"Dear  Sir, 

*'I  am  utterly  at  a  loss  for  w^ords  to  express  the 
extreme  surprise  and  anguish  of  mind  which  I  felt 
when  I  read  the  two  resolutions  of  the  directors  of 
the  Missionary  Society,  which  I  received  on  the  20th 
of  December  last.  To  be  informed  that  it  pleased 
the  directors  to  raise  my  salary  to  two  hundred  pounds 
per  annum,  without  mentioning  a  single  change  in 
the  system,  astonishes  me  above  measure.  I  should 
have  thought  the  directors  would  have  entertained 
a  more  favorable  opinion  of  my  principles,  than  to 
suspect  that  a  pecuniary  motive  was  the  chief,  or  ra- 
ther the  only  one,  by  which  I  was  actuated  in  send- 
ing to  them  my  letter  of  the  28th  of  November,  or 
in  my  other  proceedings  since  August  last.  I  am 
not  aware  that  any  part  of  my  conduct  justifies  such 
an  idea;  although  it  be  my  duty  to  provide  for  my 
family,  yet  far  be  it  from  me  to  sacrifice  my  conscience 
for  the  sake  of  corruptible  things,  such  as  gold  or 
silver.  I  have  already  stated  that,  upon  the  present 
plan  of  carrying  on  the  Jewish  mission,  I  cannot  see 


113 

of  what  particular  use  I  can  be  to  that  mission  ;  con- 
sequently, 1  think  it  unjusL  in  me  to  receive  support 
from  public  contributions,  with  the  professed  design 
of  promoting  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  whilst  I 
am  fully  convinced  that  the  object  cannot  reasona- 
bly be  expected  to  be  obtained.  Upon  tJiis  principle, 
and  for  this  reason  alone,  1  considered  it,  from  the 
moment  I  received  the  above-mentioned  resolutions, 
not  only  justifiable,  but  also  my  duty,  to  leave  the 
Missionary  Society,  however  painful  to  my  own 
mind,  and  distressing  to  the  circumstances  of  my 
dear  family.  To  this  effect  I  wrote  a  letter  imme- 
diately, but  deferred  sending  it,  in  consideration  that 
I  would  do  nothing  rashly,  and  especially  as  I  cannot 
find  that  the  directors  have  given  me  any  answer  to 
the  material  and  principal  points  which  I  humbly 
submitted  to  their  serious  consideration  ;  I  therefore 
thought  it  would  be  more  consistent  for  me  to  re- 
quest of  them  a  plain  and  final  answer  to  the  parti- 
culars just  alluded  to. 

"  With  the  highest  regard, 

"  I  remain,  dear  sir, 
'*  Your  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"C.  F.  Frey. 

'*Jan.  3,  1809." 

A  few  days  after  I  had  sent  this  letter,  I  was  sum- 
moned to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  directors,  which  I 
obeyed.  The  result  of  this  meeting  was,  that  I  sent 
another,  the  concluding  letter,  as  follows : 

"  To  the  Rev,  G,  Burder,  Secretary  to  the  Missionary/ 
Society, 

"Dear  Sir, 

**  With  much  pleasure  T  assure  you  that  the  sus- 
picion expressed  in  my  last  letter  is  wholly  removed 
10* 


114  frey's  narrative. 

by  the  kind  explanation  of  the  chairman  at  the  last 
meeting  ;  I  consider,  therefore,  the  late  resolution 
of  the  directors,  respecting  my  salary,  an  additional 
proof  of  their  good  wishes  to  me  and  my  family.  But 
as  the  chairman  was  also  so  kind  as  to  inform  me, 
in  answer  to  the  request  of  my  last  letter,  that  the 
whole  phm,  submitted  to  the  directors  November  the 
28th,  has  been  considered  by  them,  but  could  not  be 
adopted,  I  am  under  the  painful  necessity  of  repeat- 
ing, that  I  cannot  see  of  what  particular  use  I  can 
be  to  the  Jewish  mission  upon  the  present  plan. 
That  upon  this  principle,  and  for  this  reason  alone, 
1  think  it  unjust  in  me  to  continue  any  longer  as  a 
missionary  to  the  Jews  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  and  to  be  supported  by  the  pub- 
lic money,  with  the  professed  design  of  promoting 
the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  while  I  am  fully  con- 
vinced that  the  object  cannot  reasonably  be  expected 
to  be  obtained  without  employing  oihcr  means  than 
have  been  used  hitherto.  I  therefore  take  the  ear- 
liest opportunity  to  inform  you,  that,  from  the  next 
quarter  day,  I  shall  consider  my  connection  with  the 
Missionary  Society,  as  their  missionary,  dissolved. 
While  I  am  communicating  to  you  this  most  impor- 
tant, and,  to  me,  most  distressing  intelligence,  I 
earnestly  entreat,  and  most  humbly  beg  of  you,  and 
every  one  of  the  directors,  to  believe  me,  as  a  man, 
as  a  Christian,  and  as  a  servant  of  Christ,  that  no 
words  whatever  are  capable  of  expressing  my  affec- 
tionate regard  for  the  directors,  and  the  desire  of  my 
heart  for  the  prosperity  of  the  objects  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society.  I  assure  you,  dear  sir,  once  more, 
that  I  do  not  leave  the  society  out  of  any  disrespect 
to  its  directors,  whether  considered  collectively  or 
individually ;  most  sincerely  and  affectionately  do  I 
esteem  and  highly  regard  every  one  of  them  ;  and 
should  it  ever  be  in  my  power  to  promote  the  objects 


frey's  narrative.  11& 

of  the  Missionary  Society,  by  making  collections  for 
them,  or  in  any  other  way,  I  shall  greatly  rejoice  to 
embrace  every  such  opportunity,  to  show  that  I  am 
sensible  of  the  obligations  under  which  I  lie,  and  the 
gratitude  which  I  owe  them  for  the  innumerable  and 
incalculable  benefits  conferred  upon  me  and  my 
family. 

*'  Now,  may  the  blessing  of  the  new  covenant  rest 
upon  you  and  upon  every  one  of  the  directors  ;  may 
infinite  wisdom  direct  all  the  affairs  of  the  society  ; 
and  may  the  pleasure  of  Jehovah  prosper  in  your 
hands,  is,  and,  I  humbly  hope,  ever  shall  be,  the 
sincere  wish  and  fervent  prayer  of, 

*'  Dear  sir, 

''  Your  ever  willing  servant  in  the 

"Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Savior, 

"C.  F.  Frey. 

"Jan,  18,  1809." 

In  pursuance  of  the  same  spirit  with  which  the 
London  Society  had  originally  set  out,  the  commit- 
tee resolved  to  wait  a  reasonable  time  before  they 
resumed  their  operations,  and  particularly  until  the 
questions  between  myself  and  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety were  entirely  at  rest;  and  I  here  solemnly 
protest  that,  at  the  time  I  quitted  the  Missionary 
Society,  I  had  not  the  least  idea  of  making  any 
pecuniary  engagement  with  the  London  Society ; 
nor  do  I  believe  that  any  of  the  gentlemen  who  at 
that  time  composed  the  committee,  had  the  most 
distant  expectations  of  the  extraordinary  success 
which  has  since  crowned  their  exertions.  It  having, 
however,  pleased  God  to  put  it  into  the  hearts  of 
many  respectable  individuals  (who  had  for  a  long 
time  been  anxious  that  the  Jewish  mission  should  be 
carried  on  upon  a  more  extended  system)  to  unite 
with  them,  and  not  having  received  any  answer  to 


116  FREY^S    NARRATIVE. 

their  resolutions  sent  to  the  Missionary  Society,  and 
having  been  informed  that  I  had  sent  in  my  resigna- 
tion, they  resolved,  on  the  Jirst  of  March^  1809, 
"  that  the  society,  formed  on  the  4th  of  August, 
1808,  for  the  purposes  of  visiting  and  relieving  the 
sick  and  distressed,  and  instructing  the  ignorant, 
especially  such  as  are  of  the  Jewish  nation,  should 
henceforth  be  called  the  ^^  London  Society  for  pro- 
moling  Christianity  ainong  the  Jews^  I  fully  con- 
curred with  this  resolution,  with  the  exception,  that 
I  would  not  engage  in  any  active  measures  until  I 
had  fulfilled  ray  engagement  with  the  Missionary 
Society. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1809,  I  received  from 
Mr.  Burder  the  following  letter  : 

"Hatton   Garden,  Feb.  28,  1809. 
*'SlR, 

**  It  is  my  duty  to  inform  you,  that  yesterday  the 
following  resolution  was  passed  by  the  directors  of 
the  Missionary  Society  : 

'■^Resolved,  That,  as  the  connection  of  Mr.  Frey 
with  the  Missionary  Society  will  cease  on  Lady- 
day  next,  the  committee  for  the  Jews  will  provide 
preachers  for  the  following  Sabbath,  (viz.  March 
26,)  and  that  the  secretary  do  inform  Mr.  Frey  of 
this  resolution. 

"I  am,  sir,  yours,  &c. 

"Geo.  Burder,  Sec." 

On  Friday,  the  24th  of  March,  I  preached  my  last 
sermon  in  Artillery-street  chapel,  from  John,  13  :  7, 
*'  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  What  I  do  thou 
knowest  not  now :  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter." 

Thus,  after  seven  years'  labor  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Missionary  Society,  our  connection  was 


frey's  narrative.  117 

dissolved,  much  to  the  regret  of  both  parties.  The 
path  of  duty,  however,  is  the  path  of  safety,  and 
will  ever  meet  with  the  approbation  and  blessing  of 
the  God  of  Providence.  The  Missionary  Society 
having  given  up  the  Jewish  mission,  bended  their 
united  zeal  and  exertions  wholly  to  the  cause  of  the 
heathen,  with  great  success.  The  field  of  missions, 
and  the  number  of  the  missionaries,  have  been 
greatly  increased  ;  and  the  annual  income  of  the 
society^  which  at  my  separation  was  £8,000,  has 
since  risen  to  upwards  of  jG  20,000.  And  with  re- 
spect to  myself,  though,  on  leaving  the  Missionary 
Society,  I  had  no  immediate  prospect  of  usefulness 
to  my  Jewish  brethren,  and  had  already  made  ar- 
rangements to  support  my  family  by  teaching  the 
Hebrew  language,  yet  the  Lord  very  soon  stirred 
up  a  number  of  pious  and  respectable  persons,  who 
united  in  the  formation  of  a  distinct  society  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Jews.  An  account  of  its  proceedings 
from  Aug.  1808,  till  May,  1816,  will  be  found  in  the 
following  chapter. 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

RISE  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  LONDON  SOCIETY  FOR 
PROMOTING    CHRISTIANITY    AMONG    THE   JEWS. 

The  synagogue  of  the  Jews,  once  rich  in  faith, 
watered  with  the  benedictions  of  Heaven,  fruitful  in 
prophets  and  saints,  adorned  with  the  services  of 
religion  and  the  presence  of  Jehovah,  has  been, 
since  the  crucifixion  of  the  Son  of  God,  cursed  with 
i?]ifidelity,  parched  like  the  withered  tops  of  the 
mountains  of  Gilboa,  barren  and  desolate  as  the 


U8 

land  of  their  ancient  residence,  whose  naked  rocks 
seem  to  declare  to  all  the  world  the  hard-heartedness 
and  unprofitableness  of  its  old  possessors.  When 
the  "  fruitful  field  "  thus  became  a  "  forest,"  the 
"  wilderness  "  at  the  same  time  became  a  "  fruit- 
ful field."  A  church  was  planted  in  the  Gentile 
world,  and  tlie  Spirit  was  poured  out  upon  it  from  on 
high.  In  that  "  wilderness  did  waters  break  out, 
and  streams  in  that  desert."  There  was  faith  sown, 
and  holiness  was  the  universal  product.  "The  wil- 
derness and  the  solitary  place  were  glad,  and  the 
desert  rejoiced,  and  blossomed  as  the  rose.  It  blos- 
somed abundantly,  and  rejoiced  even  \vith  joy  and 
singing ;  the  glory  of  Lebanon  was  given  unto  it, 
the  excellency  of  Carmel  and  Sharon  ;"  the  privi- 
leges and  honors  of  the  synagogue  were  conferred 
upon  the  church;  and  the  nations  now  "saw  the 
glory  of  Jehovah  and  the  excellency  of  God;"  spi- 
ritual increase,  health,  and  plenty  ;  spiritual  peace, 
joy,  and  happiness,  appeared  in  beauteous  and  love- 
ly procession,  and  the  blessing  of  Jesus  was  upon 
this  his  new  inheritance,  in  every  way. 

[mpressed  with  a  high  sense  of  the  importance 
of  the  privileges  derived  from  the  Jews  by  the  Gen- 
tile church,  which  are  so  eloquently  described  by 
the  late  venerable  and  pious  Bishop  Home,  and 
deeply  commiserating  the  spiritual  and  moral  de- 
gradation of  the  descendants  of  a  people  once  so 
highly  beloved,  but  now  under  the  visible  displea- 
sure of  Jeiiovah,  a  small  number  of  individuals, 
on  the  4th  day  of  August,  1808,  formed  themselves 
into  a  society,  under  the  title  of  the  London  So::iety, 
&c.  &c.  as  stated  above. 

But  a  variety  of  circumstances  took  place,  conse- 
quent upon  the  formation  of  the  above  little  society, 
which  ended  in  the  separation  of  Mr.  Frey  from  the 
Missionary  Society,  and  led  to  a  material  acquisi- 


119 

tion  of  strength  and  respectability  to  those  who 
thought  with  him  upon  the  subject  of  the  Jewish 
mission  ;  the  result  of  which  was,  that  on  the  1st  of 
March,  1809,  Mr.  Frey  and  his  friends  came  to  the 
determination  that  the  above-mentioned  society 
should  thenceforth  be  called  The  London  Society  for 
promoting  Christianity  among  the  Jeirs  ;  and  the  fol- 
lowing address  was  immediately  published  and  cir- 
culated : 

The  conversion  of  the  Jews  to  Christianity,  whe- 
ther it  be  considered  with  regard  to  the  glory  of 
Jehovah — their  own  degraded  and  guihy  state — or 
with  reference  to  that  happy  influence  upon  the 
Christian  church,  and  the  world  at  large,  which  the 
Holy  Scriptures  encourage  us  to  anticipate,  is  a 
most  desirable  object. 

The  certainty  of  its  accomplishment,  and  that  such 
effects  will  flow  therefrom,  no  one  vviio  believes  in 
the  Bible  can  doubt  for  a  single  moment. 

It  is  true,  we  cannot  point  out  the  exact  time 
when  ALL  Israel  shall  be  saved,  yet  it  is  certain 
that  a  remnant  is  to  be  called  in  our  day  ;  and  who 
knows  how  large  that  remnant  may  be  ?  The  ap- 
proi)riate  means  to  obtain  the  proposed  end  must 
be  learned  from  Scripture  and  concurrent  circum- 
stances. 

It  is  granted  that  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  is 
the  first  and  greatest  instrument  in  the  conversion 
of  sinners  ;  yet  those  who  are  best  acquainted  with 
the  situation  of  the  Jews,  will  freely  acknowledge 
that,  in  promoting  their  convcvsion,  other  means  are 
(humanly  speaking)  absolutely  necessary.  Who 
can  reasonably  ex])ect  that  a  Jew  will  either  attend 
upon  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  or  send  a  child  to 
a  day-school  to  receive  Christian  education,  while 
the  old  law,  (John,  9  :  22,)  "  That  if  any  man  did 


120 

confess  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  he  shouhl  be  put 
out  of  the  synagogue,"  is  more  rigidly  observed 
than  ever.  The  word  of  God  assures  us,  that  the 
fear  of  man,  on  account  of  this  law,  prevented 
many  of  the  pharisees,  of  the  rulers,  and  of  the 
rich,  from  making  an  opet^  profession,  notwithstand- 
ing their  conviction  of  the  truth  of  Christ's  Messiah- 
ship.     The  united  testimony  of  history*  and  expe- 

*  The  following  fiCt  is  extracted  from  the  v/ell-anthenticated 
narrative  of  Solomon  Duitch,  a  learned  rabbi,  and  teacher  of 
several  synagogues  in  Germany,  ^Yho  having  traveled  for 
seven  years  from  place  to  place,  under  doubts  as  to  the  truths 
of  Christianity,  at  length  openly  confessed  himself  a  disciple 
of  Christ,  and  lived  and  died  in  Holland  as  a  minister  of  the 
everlasting  Gospel.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Vos,  with  whom  I  became 
personally  acquainted  in  London,  had  been  his  fellow-student 
at  the  university  of  Utrecht,  and  they  frequently  afterwards, 
in  the  exercise  ot  their  ministry,  exchanged  pulpits  with  each 
other. 

"  In  the  year  1762,  October  21,  I  arrived  at  one  of  the  chief 
cities  of  Saxony,  which,  for  particular  reasons,  I  shall  not 
mention.  The  rabbi  of  the  city  behaved  in  the  most  friendly 
manner  to  me.  The  24l!1  November  I  had  resid  so  far  of  ray 
Bible  as  the  53d  chapter  of  Isaiah,  which  I  took  now,  for  the 
first  time,  under  my  f)roper  consideration.  The  Lord  was  pleased 
to  open  the  eyes  of  my  understanding  plainly  to  comprehend 
that  the  prophet  spake  here  of  the  Messiah,  who  was  to  suffer 
death  for  our  sins.  But  Satan  endeavored  to  raise  in  me 
many  doubts  against  that  explanation.  '  Wherefore  I  resolved 
to  converse  with  my  friend  (the  above-mentioned  rabbi) 
about  the  contents  of  this  chapter:  neither  could  I  find  rest 
within  me  till  I  actually  went  to  him.  I  had  scarcely  intro- 
duced my  desire,  when  he  looked  steadflistly  in  m}'-  iiico,  and 
made  sign^  with  his  eyes  to  be  silent,  immediately  repeating 
something  out  of  the  Talmud.  In  the  evening  his  wile  and 
children  went  to  the  play-house,  leaving  us  to  ourselves.  They 
were  scarcely  out  of  sight,  before  he  took  me  into  another 
room,  which  he  locked  upon  us.  This  put  me  into  a  terrible 
fright,  imagining  for  certain  that  he  had  received  some  intel- 
ligence of  my  case,  and  would  now  seek  to  make  me  answer- 
able for  my  conduct  with  my  life.  But  I  was  poon  freed  from 
my  fears,  when,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  he  spake  tlius  to  me  : 
"  O,   Mr.  Solomon,  my  beloved  and  faithful  brother  1  I    will 


121 

i  ience,  since  the  times  of  the  apostles,  clearly  evi- 
dences that  the  fear  of  man  is  still  a  great  snare, 

disclose'  all  the  secrets  of  my  heart  unto  you ;  hut  it  is  under 
the  express  condition  that  you  keep  the  secret ;  for  if  the  least 
word  should  get  vent  by  you  among  the  Jews,  I  shall,  for  my 
own  security,  charge  you  with  what  I  shall  confess  to  you, 
and  make  you  the  author  of  it;  in  which  case,  it  is  easy  to 
comprehend  what  a  persecution  you  will  be  exposed  to.   This 
presupposed,   I  will   now   no  longer   withhold   from   you   the 
secrets  of  my  heart.     Did  you  not  desire  me  to  explain  to 
you  the  53d  of  Isaiah?'  Having  answeied  in  the  affirmative, 
he  went  into  another  room,  and  brought  from  thence  a  Ger- 
man  Bible,  ont  of  which  he  read  to  me,  with  the  greatest 
reverence  and  devotion,   the  26th   chapter  of  Matthew,  and 
then  addressed  mc  thus:  'My  beloved  friend,  you   see  here, 
m  the  53d  ol'  Isaiah,  the  clearest  prophecy  of  the  Messiah, 
who  should  be  scorned  and  despised,  and  even  suffer  death  ; 
and  for  what?  for  his  own  trespasses?  O  no  !  it  was  for  our 
iniquities,  and  for  our  trespasses ;  which  you  will  clearly  per- 
ceive, and  must  be  allowed  by  many  of  our  rabbis.     But  in 
that  chapter  which  I  have  read  to  you  out  of  the  German 
book,  is  contained  the  fulfillment  of  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah  ^ 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  true  Messiah ;  but,  alas !  what  an 
unhappy  thing  is  that  to  us  !     Our  forefathers,  who  lived  in 
his  days,  would  not  receive  nor  acknowledge  him  as  the  true 
Messiah  and  Savior  ;  and,  should  you  asic  me  why  they  did 
not,  I  could  answer  you  a  great  deal  on  that  head  ;  but  1  am 
sorry  our  time  is  too  short  to  give  a  full  insight  into  the  ex- 
treme blindness  and  prejudices  of  our  forefathers  in  general, 
in  those  days:  their  poor  and  unhappy  offspring,   followino' 
their  example,  have  continued  in  their  blind  ways,  and  have 
led  us  on  as  bhnd  leaders  to  this  very  day.    O  what  shall  I 
poor  wretched  creature,  now  do  or  undertake?   I  see  clearly 
the  beams  of  the  sun  shining  into  my  understanding,  but  can- 
not  possibly  rise  out  of  the  dark  cloud.    How  could  I  leave 
my  wife,  whom  I  love  as  myself?   and  how  could  I  abandon 
my  children,  who  are  of  my  own  flesh  and  blood  ?  O,   my 
heart,  my  fatherly  heart,  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  it !   Be- 
sides, by  what  means  could  I  get  my  bread?   1  cannot  labor, 
having  learnt  no  business,  and  to  seek  my  support  from  cha- 
rity is  revolting  against  my  nature  ;  besides  this,  I  am  afraid 
of  being  turned  off  by  the  Christians,   who,   without  doubt, 
would  mistrust  my  sincerity,  after  they  have  so  often  been 
deceived  by  false  and  inconstant  proselytes.     What  shall  I  do, 
miserable  as  I  am !'     Having  related  to  him  all  the  ways  in 

11 


1S2  Frey's  narrative. 

especially  to  the  poor  and  ignorant  among  the  Jews, 
and  which  class  constitute  by  far  the  greatest  part 
of  that  unhappy  nation.  To  remove  this  apparently 
insurmountable  obstacle,  is  one  great  design  of  the 
London  Society. 

The  means  by  which  they  humbly  hope  to  accom- 
plish this  most  desirable  object  are  such  as  these : 
To  establish  a  school,  that  they  may  p.e  able 

TO  RECEIVE  CHILDREN  WHOLLY  FROxM  THEIR  PA- 
RENTS,     AND      BESTOW     UPON     THEM     EDUCATION, 

BOARD,  AND  CLOTHING  ;  to  connect  with  this  a  day- 
school,  out  of  which  vacancies  in  the  former  may  be 
filled  up  ;  to  put  out  girls  and  boys  as  apprentices  ; 
to  find  employment,  if  possible,  for  those  who  arc 
able  to  work  ;  to  visit  and  relieve  the  sick  ;  to  dis- 
tribute tracts,  &c.  <fcc. 

It  is  not,  however,  the  intention  of  the  London 
Society  to  confine  themselves  to  any  particular  me- 
thod of  accomplishing  the  great  object  they  have  in 
view,  but  they  will  embrace  and  adopt  any  plan 
which  may  api>ear  favorable  to  this  purpose,  as  cir- 
cumstances shall  arise. 

Among  other  ideas  which  present  themselves,  the 
London  Society  cannot  but  refer  to  the  prejudice  of 
education,  which  may  be  considered  as  the  main 
obstacle  opposed  to  them  ;  it  is  well  known  that  this 
exists  and  operates  in  the  minds  of  the  more  re- 
spectable and  better  informed  Jews,  to  a  sufticient 
extent  to  prevent  them  from  attending  to,  and  em- 
bracing the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  although  they 

which  the  Lord  had  led  me  from  the  begimiing,  he  fell  down 
on  his  knees  and  shed  a  flood  of  tears.  It  is  impossible  lor  me 
to  describe  the  anxiety  of  his  soul ;  he  prayed  with  a  broken 
and  contrite  heart  before  God,  that  he  might  m  pity  look  down 
upon  him,  and  grant  him  the  same  grace  as  to  me  ;  to  deny 
himself,  and  unloose  his  heart  from  all  temporal  concerns,  ena- 
blino-  him  to  rely  and  trust  in  him  alone."— /Sfee  'S'.  Dmtch's 
Narrative,  London  edition,  1771,  'pa^e  33. 


123 

have  discernment  enough  to  ridicule  the  absurdity 
of  rabbinical  reveries,  and  are  living  in  the  open 
and  daily  violation  of  the  law  of  Moses.  The  state 
of  this  description  of  persons  is  truly  awful ;  and 
the  London  Society  cannot  but  lament,  with  aston- 
ishment, that  the  advocates  of  Christianity,  in  and 
out  of  the  established  church,  have  paid  so  little 
attention  to  the  subject  as  to  leave  the  Jews  in  pos- 
session of  a  modern  and  well  written  publication, 
(highly  popular  among  the  Hebrew  nation  at  large,) 
without  the  slightest  attempt  to  expose  its  errors. 
There  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  among  the 
<jlass  of  individuals  above  alluded  to,  there  are  many 
whose  minds  are  sufficiently  enlightened  by  educa- 
Uon  to  receive  and  imbibe  the  truths  of  Christianity, 
were  they  forcibly  and  affectionately  appealed  to. 

It  is  therefore  in  the  contemplation  of  the  Lon- 
don Society  to  endeavor  to  excite  a  spirit  of  inquiry 
among  those  who  may  be  considered  as  the  heads 
of  the  Jewish  people ;  and  by  so  doing  they  have 
considerable  expectation  of  removing  the  greatest 
difficulty  they  have  to  encounter  with  the  lower 
orders,  viz.  "the  fear  of  man,"  above  alluded  to 
and  illustrated. 

To  carry  designs  of  such  magnitude  into  effect, 
considerable  funds  will  become  requisite.  The  com- 
mittee, therefore,  solicit  the  aid  of  a  liberal  public. 

The  field  of  labor  is  most  extensive,  (more  than 
nine  millions  of  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel 
are  scattered  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  without 
a  shepherd,  perishing  for  want  of  food,  whilst  in  our 
Father's  house  there  is  bread  enough  and  to  spare,) 
and  the  committee  trust  the  harvest  will  be  abun- 
dant. The  success  of  the  society  must  depend 
(under  the  blessing  of  God)  upon  the  exertions  of 
the  committee,  and  those  exertions  must  necessarily 
be  regulated  by  the  state  of  the  funds 


124  trey's  narrative. 

The  obligations  of  Christians,  of  every  denomina- 
tion, to  promote  the  conversion  of  the  Jews  by  their 
various  gifts  and  talents,  are  more  than  could  be 
mentioned  in  this  short  address;  nor  do  the  com- 
mittee think  it  altogether  necessary  to  use  argu- 
ments to  recommend  the  institution.    The  liberality 
of  the  public  to  support  other  institutions,  and  the 
fervent  prayers  of  Christians  for  their  success,  lead 
the  committee  to  hope  that  they  shall  meet  with 
similar   encouragement.    Although  the  committee 
rejoices  in  every  institution  that  aims  to  promote 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  men,  yet  they 
think  themselves  justified  in  saying,  that  few  are  of 
such  importance  as  that  which  they  now  submit  to 
the  public,  through  the  instrumentality  of  which, 
they  humbly  hope,  many  individuals  may  become 
useful  members  of  society,  and,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  be  rescued  from  eternal  misery,  who  would 
otherwise  have  become  the  subjects  of  prostitution, 
or  perhaps  have  forfeited  their  lives  to  the  offended 
laws  of  the  country  ;  thus,  too,  (and  which  is  not  of 
trivial  consideration  in  times  like  those  vi^e  live  in,) 
the  mass  of  national  iniquity  may  be  proportionably 
diminisheJ  ;  the  ignorant  will  be  instructed,  immor- 
tal souls  saved,  and  the  conversion  of  the  Gentiles 
promoted.      The    committee,    therefore,    conclude 
with  the  words  of  the  apostle,    *' We  are  great 
debtors  to  the   children   of  Israel,  for  unto  them 
were  committed  the  oracles  of  God,  Rom.  3:2; 
and   unto   them  pertaineth  the  adoption,  and  the 
glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the  giving  of  the  law, 
and  the  service  of  God,  and  the  promises ;  whose 
are  the  fathers,  and  of  whom  (as  concerning  the 
flesh)  Christ  came,  who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for 
ever.    Amen.''    Rom.  9:4, 5. 

The  preaching  of  the   Gospel  being  the  great 


^•REY  S    NARRATIVE. 


125 


aieans  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  the  London 
Society  made  it  their  first  concern  to  obtain  for  me 
a  place  of  worship. 

Accordingly,  on  the  2Gth  of  March,  1809,  the 
first  Sabbath  after  I  had  left  the  Missionary  Society, 
I  commenced  an  evening  lecture,  under  their  pa- 
tronage, at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beck's  meeting-house, 
Bury-street,  St.  Mary-Axe. 

Among  the  crowded  congregation  that  attended 
these  lectures,  hundreds  of  my  Jewish  brethren 
were  patient  and  attentive  hearers. 

The  lecture,  however,  was  not  long  continued  in 
that  place,  a  more  extensive  field  of  usefulness 
having  presented  itself.  The  large  building  situated 
in  Church  street,  Spitalfields,  occupied  for  many 
years  as  a  French  Protestant  Church,  being  to  let, 
the  London  Society  bought  the  lease  of  the  same, 
and  denominated  it  "  the  Jews'  Chapelt 

In  this  place  have  been  three  services  every  Sab- 
hath  ;  the  morning  and  the  afternoon  being  usually 
supplied  by  different  ministers,  and  I  preached  the 
lecture  in  the  evening  to  the  Jews,  delivered  a  lec- 
ture on  Wednesday  evening,  and  gave  an  exhorta- 
tion at  the  prayer-meeting  on  Friday  evening.  The 
attendance  on  my  ministry  has  been  noticed  by  the 
society  in  their  annual  reports,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing is  an  extract : 

"The  lectures  to  the  Jews,  by  Mr.  Frey,  which 
form  so  important  and  prominent  a  feature  in  the 
operations  of  the  society,  have  been  continued  at 
the  Jews'  chapel,  and  of  them  it  is  not  saying  too 
much  to  observe,  that  subjects  have  been  so  judi- 
ciously selected,  and  so  admirably  treated  by  him, 
especially  in  the  elucidation  and  application  of  the 
doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  Jews,  in  exposing  the 
fallacious  reasonings  of  the  Hebrew  doctors,  and  in 
enforcing  the  grand  truths  of  Christianity,  that  these 
11* 


126  frey's  narrative. 

discourses  will  long  be  remembered  with  delight  and 
satisfaction  by  those  who  have  heard  them.  Your 
committee  regret  that  Mr.  Frey's  diffidence  has  led 
him  (perhaps  somewhat  too  pertinaciously)  to  resist 
their  repeated  applications  to  prepare  several  of 
these  lectures  for  the  press.  It  has  been  highly 
gratifying  to  the  committee  to  observe  the  interest 
which  has  beqn  excited  in  the  minds  of  the  Jews. 
Great  numbers  have  attended  the  chapel,  and  have 
behaved  with  much  becoming  decorum  ;  and  what 
is  a  matter  of  no  small  importance,  the  same  indi- 
viduals have  been  frequently  observed  to  attend 
successive  lectures  with  apparent  seriousness,  and 
on  some  occasions  to  use  their  Bibles,  and  mark  the 
proof  texts  brought  forward  to  their  notice.  There 
is  now  a  respectable  congregation  of  Jews  and 
Christians,  who  constantly  attend  divine  service  at 
the  chapel,  which,  if  it  be  maintained  on  its  present 
footing,  will  continue  to  be  a  place  of  worship  to 
which  Jews  may  always  resort,  and  obtain  a  know- 
ledge of  Christian  doctrines." — Fourth  Be2)ort,  Lon- 
don Society, 

In  addition  to  my  ministerial  labors  in  this  chapel, 
I  preached  generally  twice  on  the  Lord's  day,  and 
frequently  in  the  week  evenings,  in  different  congre- 
gations. I  also  visited  the  schools  of  the  society, 
catechised  the  children,  and  instructed  the  adults. 
For  three  or  four  months  every  year,  I  traveled 
and  preached  daily  to  collect  for  the  society.  I  also 
assisted  in  the  translation  of  the  New  Testament 
into  Hebrew,  the  printing  and  publishing  of  tracts 
in  the  Hebrew,  German,  and  English  languages. 
Thus  I  continued  my  labors  until  I  was  prevented 
by  the  change  of  the  constitution  of  the  society,  of 
which  the  committee  have  thus  expressed  them- 
selves : 

*'  The   late   arrangements,   whereby  the  future 


frey's    narrative.  127 

management  o  f  the  society  was  placed  in  the  hand 
of  members  of  the  established  church,  and  the  rules 
then  adopted,  which  provide  that  public  worship,  in 
the  future  operations  of  the  society,  shall  be  con- 
ducted according  to  the  formularies  and  disciplines 
of  that  church,  have  rendered  it  necessary  for  your 
committee  to  discontinue  the  lectures,  at  the  above 
chapel,  by  Mr.  Frey. 

"  The  sphere  of  usefulness  in  which  Mr.  Frey 
may  hereafter  be  called  to  act  with  the  greatest 
benefit  to  the  cause  of  his  Jewish  brethren,  is  a 
point  which  as  yet  the  committee  do  not  fcej  them- 
selves competent  to  determine.  But  they  are  of 
opinion  that,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  his 
peculiar  case,  the  prosecution  of  his  studies,  with  a 
view  to  ordination,  and  his  presence  in  London  for 
the  purpose  of  assisting  the  operations  of  the  society, 
are  highly  expedient. 

"  The  improved  condition  of  the  society  at  home, 
with  the  enlarged  patronage  within  the  establish- 
ment, which  the  late  arrangements  enable  us  to 
anticipate  with  confidence,  and  the  increasing  dis- 
position of  the  Jews  on  the  continent  to  inquire  into 
the  truth  of  Christianity,  may,  at  no  very  distant 
period,  mark  out  for  him  the  path  of  obvious  and 
positive  duty  ;  and  in  the  meantime,  the  suspen- 
sion of  his  ministerial  labors  will,  we  are  persuaded, 
lead,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  to  their  more  effi- 
cient renewal,  ajid  prepare  him  for  carrying  forward 
a  work,  the  commencement  of  which  has  been  dis- 
tinguished by  a  degree  of  success  which  can  be 
attributed  only  to  the  blessing  of  that  Almighty 
Being  who  worketh  all  things  according  to  the  coun- 
sel of  his  own  will. 

"  Adverting  again  to  the  circumstance  of  the 
Jews'  chapel  having,  for  the  present,  been  shut  up, 
your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  important  ad- 


128  frey's  narrative. 

vantages  will,  in  the  meantime,  result  from  the 
whole  of  the  converted  Jews  being  collected  in  one 
place  of  worsliip. 

**  The  difficulties  in  which  the  society  was,  until 
the  present  moment,  known  to  he  involved,  may 
have  inspired  the  unbelieving  Jews  with  a  hope  that 
this  institution,  like  every  former  attempt  which  has 
been  made  to  shake  the  prejudices  of  that  people, 
will  fall  to  the  ground;  but  as  it  has  already,  in  a 
great  measure,  emerged  from  its  embarrassments, 
and  is  likely,  with  the  divine  blessing,  to  proceed  in 
its  course  with  increasing  energy,  we  may  confi- 
dently hope  that  the  existence  of  so  considerable 
a  number  of  converted  Jews,  collected  in  one  con- 
gregation, under  the  patronage  of  the  established 
church,  cannot  fail  powerfully  to  attract,  and  ulti- 
mately to  command,  the  attention  of  the  Jewish 
nation. 

J  *'  It  further  affords  to  your  committee  the  greatest 
satisfaction  to  state,  that  though  they  have  for  the 
present  been  disappointed  in  their  views  of  obtain- 
ing ordination  for  Mr.  Frey,  yet  there  are  several 
other  adult  Jews  now  in  this  country,  of  promising 
talents  and  piety,  who  are  receiving  instruction  with 
a  view  to  ordination.  There  are  also  three  Jewish 
youths  educating  for  the  same  end,  under  the  pa- 
tronage of  the  society  ;  if  these  youths  should  mani- 
fest decided  tokens  of  piety,  it  may  be  hoped  they 
will,  with  the  divine  blessing,  become  instruments 
of  usefulne-s  to  the  Jews.  It  may  also  be  expected 
that  boys  of  promising  piety  and  talents  shall  here- 
after be  selected  from  the  school,  to  be  educated  for 
the  same  end.  Upon  the  whole,  therefore,  your 
committee  humbly  trust  that  you  will  be  furnished, 
in  due  time,  with  instruments,  not  only  to  carry  on 
the  Jewish  mission,  but  greatly  to  enlarge  it,  and 


129 

this  as  soon  as  your  pecuniary  means  shall  enable 
you  to  do  so." — Seventh  Report  London  Society. 

The  origin,  nature,  and  effects  of  this  change  are 
contained  in  the  following  reports  : 

CHANGE    OF    THE    CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    LONDON 
SOCIETY. 

A  report  read  at  an  exlraordinary  general  mectingy 
February  28,  1815,  icith  the  ntiu  rules  and  regula- 
iious  passed  at  that  meeting,  and  confirmed  by  ano- 
ther general  meeting,  March  14:j  1815. 

On  Tuesday,  the  28th  of  February,  an  extraor- 
dinary general  meeting?  of  the  London  Society  for 
promoting  Christianity  amongst  the  Jews  was  held 
at  Free  Masons'  Tavern  : 

Thomas  Babington,  Esq.  M.  P.  iii  the  chair, 

Thomas  Babington,  Esq.  M.P.  having  taken  the 
chair,  the  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer,  by  the 
Rev.  Basil  Woodd. 

The  following  report  was  afterwards  read  by  the 
Rev.  C.  S.  Hawtrey,  officiating  minister  of  the 
Episcopal  Jews'  chapel  : 

"  Your  committee  having  deemed  it  necessary, 
according  to  the  8th  general  rule  of  the  society,  to 
call  an  extraordinary  general  meeting,  beg  leave  to 
submit  the  following  report  of  the  reasons  which 
have  led  to  this  iDeasure  : 

*'  It  appears,  that  on  the  first  formation  of  this  so- 
ciety, it  consisted  of  Christians  of  various  denomi- 
nations, without  any  reference  to  their  respective 
differences  of  sentiment ;  and  in  the  earlier  stage  of 
its  progress  it  was  stated  in  its  reports  that  the  ex- 
ertions of  the  institution,  as  far  as  they  were  of  a 
spiritual  nature,  were  to  be  confined  to  the  simple 


130  frey's  narrative. 

object  of  convincing  the  Jews  of  the  Messiahship  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  leaving  tlie  Jewish  converts 
to  decide  for  themselves  what  external  communion 
of  Christians  they  would  join.* 

**  It  is  evident,  that  so  long  as  the  operations  of 
the  society  were  limited  strictly  to  the  above  object, 
it  was  possible  for  them  to  proceed  in  their  course 
without  coming  upon  disputed  ground,  involving  in 
it  the  points  of  difference  between  Christians;  and 
thus  far,  all  truly  pious  Christians  could  most  cor- 
dially act  together,  without  offering  violence  to  their 
strictest  and  most  conscientious  views  of  duty. 

**  The  society  having,  very  soon  after  its  original 
formation,  become  possessed  of  a  large  place  of  wor- 
ship in  Spitalfields,  since  called  the  Jews'  chapel,  it 
was  opened  for  the  Jews  ;  sprmons  were  there  deli- 
vered by  dissenting  ministers  of  various  denomina- 
tions, and  lectures  on  the  evidences  of  Christianity 
were  preached  by  Mr.  J.  S.  C.  F.  Frey. 

**  By  the  divine  blessing  on  the  use  of  these 
means,  a  small  congregation  of  converted  Jews  was 
collected  ;  but  as  the  society  was  not  then  possessed 
of  an  Episcopal  place  of  worship,  your  committee, 
anxious  to  conduct  the  institution  on  the  principles 
of  strict  impartiality,  and  to  avoid  giving  occasion 
of  offence  to  the  conscientious  members  of  the  esta- 
blished church  who  were  subscribers  to  the  insti- 
tution, did  not  then  think  it  advisable  that  the  Jews' 
chapel  should  be  permitted  to  assume  the  form  of  a 
dissenting  church  ;  and  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 


'  '^  It  is  the  object  of  the  London  Society  for  promoting  Chris- 
tianity amontrst  the  Jews,  to  limit  themselves  to  the  eimple  ob- 
ject of  convincing  their  Jewish  brethren  that  Jesus  is  the  Mes- 
siah, the  Savior  ol'the  world  ;  leaving  them,  when  thus  instructed, 
to  search  the  Scriptures,  and  judge  lor  themselves  respecting  all 
inferior  points  on  which  Christians  themselves  are  not  agreed, 
—  IViird  Report  of  the  London  iSocieiy,  foge  13. 


FRfiv's    NARRATIVE,  131' 

Supper  has  consequently  never  been  administered 
there. 

*'  But  it  having  pleased  God,  as  above  mentioned, 
very  early  to  bless  the  efforts  of  the  institution,  in 
convincing  some  of  the  children  of  Israel  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  Messiah,  it  consequently  became  neces- 
sary that  the  ordinance  of  baptism  should  be  admi- 
nistered to  them.  A  part  of  the  converts  accordingly 
received  baptism  in  the  Church  of  England,  agree- 
ably to  the  rites  of  that  church ;  and  others  were 
baptized  at  the  Jews'  chapel  in  Spitalfields,  by  a 
minister  of  the  Presbyterian  and  National  Church  of 
Scotland,  and  according  to  the  forms  of  that  national 
church.  The  baptism  of  the  converts  from  year  to 
year,  has  continued  to  be  conducted  in  the  same 
manner,  with  the  exception  of  last  year  only.* 

"  At  the  same  time  that  sermons  and  lectures,  as 
above  mentioned,  were  preached  in  the  chapel  of  the 
society,  your  committee  embraced  every  opportunity 
of  procuring  aid  from  the  talents  and  piety  of  the 
clergy  of  the  established  church,  by  soliciting  them 
to  preach  occasional  lectures  to  the  Jews  in  [)laces 
of  w^orship  connected  with  the  church  of  England, 
In  pursuance  of  the  same  general  plan,  and  with  the 
design  of  connecting  the  institution  more  nearly 
with  its  friends  of  the  establishment,  and  of  procu- 
ring for  it  more  general  support  in  that  quarter,  your 
committee  obtained  a  lease  of  a  piece  of  ground  at 
Bcthnal  Green,  where  a  large  chapel  for  the  Jews 
has  been  erected,  and  opened  under  a  license  from 
the  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London.  This 
chapel  is  under  the  ministerial  charge  of  the  Rev. 

*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Nicol,  ofthe  Scotch  church,  who  liad  baptized 
the  Jews  at  the  Jews'  chapel  in  the  former  years,  being  particu- 
larly engaged,  the  ordinance  was,  in  this  instance,  administered 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Arundel,  of  Whitby. 


132  FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 

Mr.  Havvthrcy,  a  regular  clergyman  of  the  Church 
of  England. 

"  In  prosecuting  these  various  measures,  it  was 
the  ardent  desire  of  your  committee  to  conciliate  the 
minds  of  all  pious  persons,  both  in  the  establishment 
and  amongst  the  dissenters.  It  was  their  view  to 
establish  in  the  Episcoj)al  chapel  a  mission  to  the 
Jews,  conducted  by  the  clergy  of  the  established 
church  ;  and  that  a  similar  mission  should  be  formed 
in  the  Jews'  chapel,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frey  should 
officiate  as  the  regular  minister,  after  receiving  or- 
dination ;*  and  that  in  this  chapel,  pious  and  learned 
dissenting  ministers  should  have  opportunities  af- 
forded them  of  preaching  to  the  Jews.  It  was  thus 
the  endeavor  of  your  committee  to  unite  both  the 
church  and  the  dissenters  in  the  great  work  of  evan- 
gelizing the  Jews. 

"Your  committee  must  now  lay  before  you  the 
serious  difficulties  which  have  been  experienced  by 
them,  in  carrying  on  the  institution  upon  the  above 
principle. 

"  Although  the  society  has  met  with  much  cordial 
and  zealous  aid  from  its  friends  among  the  dissent- 
ers, and  the  dissenting  members  of  it  have,  with  a 
catholic  spirit  of  liberality  which  reflects  upon  them 
very  high  honor,  willingly  concurred  in  the  measures 
connected  with  the  erection  of  the  Episcopal  chapel, 
yet  it  is  well  known  that  the  society  has  never  been 

*  Intended  ordinaiion  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frey. — The  Com- 
mittee of  the  London  Society  have  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Frey  shall  be  ordained  at  the  Jews'  chapel,  as  "  Minister  cfthe 
Gospel  to  the  Jews  f''  and  that  he  shall  in  future  regularly 
preach  at  that  chapel  on  Sunday  mornings  and  evenings,  and 
instruct  the  Jewish  children  and  adults  in  the  afternoons.  He  is 
also  to  deliver  a  lecture  on  Wednesday  evenings,  and  to  attend 
vhe  prayer-meeting  on  Friday  evenings. — Jewish  Repository, 
January^  1815. 


trey's  narrative.  133 

supported  by  the  dissenters  generally,  or  in  the  same 
degree  as  they  have  aided  missions  to  the  heathen. 

*'  With  respect  to  the  support  given  to  the  society 
by  the  established  church,  your  committee  have  long 
been  aware  that  many  conscientious  men  in  that 
church  have  declined  to  support  the  institution,  upon 
the  alledged ground  of  its  connection  with  the  dissent- 
ers in  matters  of  discipline ;  and  especially  because 
the  Jews'  chapel  was  considered  as  a  dissenting 
place  of  worship.  The  extent  of  this  obstacle  was 
not,  however,  known  to  your  committee  till  very 
lately.  It  was  discovered  in  consequence  of  their 
attempts  to  remedy  the  financial  difficulties  under 
which  the  society  labored.  These  difficulties  it  is 
now  the  painful  duty  of  your  committee  to  lay  before 
you. 

"In  the  last  annual  report,  your  committee  called 
your  attention  to  the  considerable  debt  which  had 
been  contracted  by  the  society ;  it  is  with  the  greatest 
concern  they  must  now  add,  that  the  gross  amount 
of  debt  at  this  time  appears  to  exceed  the  sum  of 
c€  7,500;*  besides  what  is  still  due  for  the  building 
contract  of  the  Episcopal  chapel,  amounting  at  least 
to  <£  5,000  more.  It  is  true  that  there  is  a  large  pro- 
perty, and  a  considerable  sum  due  to  the  society,  to 
set  off  against  these  debts ;  but  as  that  property  is 
not  convertible  into  money,  and  a  part  of  the  sums 
due  to  you  are  believed  not  to  be  recoverable,  no  im- 
mediate relief  can  be  expected  from  these  sources. 
Your  committee  are  therefore  reduced  to  the  pain- 

*  In  the  last  report  of  the  society  the  debts  were  stated  as 

follows:  I.        s.     d. 

Due  by  the  printing  account,         .         .         .     2,878    7      3 

General  debt, 2,676    6      1 

5,554  13      4 


The  increaseof  the  debt,  therefore,  is  about  £2,000. 
12 


134  frey's  narrative. 

ful  necessity  of  stating,  that  unless  the  greatest 
efforts  and  exertions  are  made,  the  society  cannot 
prosecute  its  great  objects. 

"  Pressed  on  all  sides  by  financial  difficulties, 
which  have  been  so  great  that  actions  were  brought 
for  some  of  the  debts,  and  others  threatened,  your 
committee  attempted  to  meet  these  exigencies  by 
efforts  to  obtain  a  more  enlarged  support;  but  they 
found  insuperable  obstacles  to  this  design,  arising 
from  the  unwillingness  of  many  excellent  persons  in 
the  church  establishment  to  co-operate  with  the  so- 
ciety, as  long  as  it  was  conducted  on  the  principle 
of  the  union  of  churchmen  and  dissenters,  in  mat- 
ters affecting  church  discipline.  It  was  in  this  way 
that  the  whole  extent  of  the  practical  difficulty  aris- 
ing from  the  above  cause  was  ascertained. 

"Your  committee,  without  any  delay,  set  them- 
i^elves  to  consider  the  best  mode  of  removing  the 
above  objection  ;  and  after  very  carefully  consider- 
ing a  variety  of  plans,  they,  upon  the  27th  of  De- 
cember last,  passed  the  following  resolutions : 

^^  Resolved,  1.  That  the  spiritual  concerns  of  the 
society  connected  with  the  chapels,  the  schools,  and 
the  education  of  missionaries,  be  henceforth  sepa- 
rately conducted  by  the  churchmen  and  dissenters 
respectively. 

"2.  That  the  Episcopal  chapel  and  school  be  a 
distinct  concern  in  the  hands  of  the  churchmen. 

"  3.  That  the  Jews'  chapel  and  school  be  a  distinct 
concern  in  the  hands  of  the  dissenters. 

*'  4.  That  the  Hebrew  New  Testament,  the  print- 
ing office,  the  manufactories,  and  female  asylum,  be 
a  distinct  and  separate  concern,  forming  one  com- 
mon centre  of  union  to  all  parties. 

*'5.  That  a  sum  (say  <£C,000)  be  advanced,  two- 
thirds  by  the  church  committee,  and  one-third  by  the 
dissenting  committee,  for  liquidating  the  debts  of 


iPrey's    narrative.  135 

the  society;  and  that  the  Episcopal  chapel  shall  be 
a  security  for  the  larger  sum,  and  the  other  assets 
of  the  society  for  the  smaller  sum. 

''6.  That  the  three  distinct  concerns  have  each 
its  own  particular  committee,  consisting  of  twelve 
persons;  but  that  six  of  the  two  chapel  committees 
be  also  members  of  the  committee  of  the  general 
concern;  so  that  the  committee  of  the  general  con- 
cern consist,  in  fact,  of  twenty-four  persons. 

"  7.  That  the  three  committees  have  a  quarterly 
meeting  together,  to  state  to  each  other  their  re- 
spective proceedings. 

"  8.  That  the  proceedings  of  all  the  three  com- 
mittees be  comprised  in  one  report,  and  be  read  to- 
gether annually,  at  the  same  time  and  place. 

"It  is  observable  that  the  above  resolutions  con- 
sist of  two  parts  ;  the  one  relating  to  the  general 
management  of  the  society,  the  other  to  its  pecuni- 
ary concerns.  Your  committee  would  offer  a  few 
observations  on  each  of  them  ;  premising  that  nei- 
ther of  the  two  parts  has  been  carried  into  execu- 
tion. 

"  With  respect  to  the  part  of  these  resolutions 
first  mentioned,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  every 
praise  is  due  to  the  gentlemen  who  framed  them. 
They  were  evidently  dictated  by  a  desire  '  to  pre- 
serve the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace.' 
But  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  they  have  not 
satisfied  those  who  objected  to  the  union  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  church  and  dissent  in  one  institution. 
The  execution  of  these  resolutions  would  also  have 
been  attended  with  practical  difficulties  of  no  com- 
mon magnitude  ;  for  they  involve  in  them  the  yet 
untried  and  anomalous  expedient  of  subjecting  the 
different  parts  of  one  and  the  same  institution  to  the 
management  of  three  distinct  and  independent  com- 
mittees, without  any  common  controlling  powder,  ex- 


136  frey's  narrative. 

cepting  that  of  a  general  meeting  of  the  society.  It 
is  much  to  be  feared  that  such  an  arrangement, 
without  mentioning  the  evils  of  dividing  the  schools, 
would  have  been  pregnant  with  the  seeds  of  unholy 
emulation  and  dissension. 

*'  For  the  above  reasons,  it  is  the  matured  opinion 
of  your  committee,  that  the  execution  of  this  part 
of  the  resolutions  referred  to  would  have  been  found 
inexpedient  and  impracticable. 

"  The  other  part  of  the  resolutions  provided  for 
the  raising  of  a  sum  of  money  by  way  of  a  loan; 
£4,000  to  be  advanced  by  the  churchmen,  and 
£2,000  by  the  dissenters.  It  has  been  said,  in  re- 
ference to  this  measure,  that  it  would  have  been 
better  if  no  distinction  had  been  made  between  the 
parties,  and  that  the  money  had  been  raised  in  com- 
mon. In  reply  to  this,  your  committee  briefly  ob- 
serve, that  any  friends  of  the  society,  who  should 
have  advanced  the  larger  sum,  had  a  just  claim  to 
decide  on  what  terms  they  would  lend  it ;  and  that, 
as  churchmen,  it  was  more  accordant  with  their 
sense  of  propriety  to  lend  it  on  the  security  of  the 
church  property. 

**  At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  committee,  held 
on  the  31st  of  January,  it  appeared  that  the  portion 
allotted  to  the  dissenters  had  not  been  raised  by 
them  ;  and  it  was  stated  by  the  church  members, 
that  though  their  share  of  the  proffered  loan  was 
ready,  yet  they  could  not  advance  it  until  the  dis- 
senters should  evince  a  disposition  to  fulfill  their  part 
of  the  stipulation.  A  very  long  conversation  took 
place  in  consequence,  and  it  was  determined  that 
the  church  and  dissenting  members  of  the  committee 
should  form  separate  sub-committees,  which  should 
meet  and  see  what  could  be  done  among  their  re- 
spective friends  to  remove  the  difficulty,  and  report 
to  the  next  general  meeting  of  the  committee. 


137 

**The  sub-committee  of  dissenters  having  met, 
resolved  to  call  a  general  meeting  of  the  dissenting 
members  in  and  near  London.  This  meeting  took 
place  on  Tuesday,  the  14th  of  February,  and  cer- 
tain resolutions  were  then  passed,  expressive  of  their 
design  to  withdraw  from  the  management  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  leave  it  in  the  hands  of  their  brethren  of 
the  established  church.  The  resolutions  of  both 
these  meetings  of  dissenters  will  now  be  read  to  the 
present  meeting, 

**  At  a  siih- committee  meeting  of  Dissenters,  held  at  the 
London  Society  House ,  Feb,  6,  1815, 

**  Mr.  Lindeman  in  the  chair, 

*'  Resolved,  That  as  the  debts  of  the  society  have 
been  incurred  by  the  committee  at  large,  it  appears 
to  this  committee  that  any  exertions  to  discharge 
the  same,  either  by  loan  or  subscription,  ought  to  be 
made  by  the  committee  at  large,  without  respect  to 
religious  denomination. 

"  That  it  is  expedient  to  call  a  general  meeting  of 
such  dissenters  as  are  subscribers  to  this  society,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  present  state  of  the  so- 
ciety. 

"  That  this  meeting  be  held  at  the  New  London 
Tavern,  in  Cheapslde,  on  Tuesday,  the  14th  instant, 
at  5  o'clock  in  the  evening;. 


'O 


*^  At  a  meeting  of  the  Dissenters  in  London,  who  are 
subscribers  to  the  London  Society  for  'promoting 
Christianity  amongst  the  Jews,  held  at  the  New 
London  Tavern,   Cheapside,  Feb,  14,  1815, 

Joseph  Fox,  Esq.  in  the  chair. 
*'  Resolved,  1.  That  it  affords  to  the  present  meet- 
ing the  most  heartfelt  satisfaction,  to  contemplate 
the  success  which  it  has  pleased  Divine  Providence 

12* 


138  trey's  narrative. 

to  confer  upon  the  efforts  made  for  the  conversion 
of  Israel  since  the  establishment  of  this  society. 

*'  2.  That  as  the  present  exigencies  of  this  society, 
and  the  exertions  which  will  be  required  for  its  future 
prosperity,  call  for  greater  pecuniary  assistance,  and 
inci^ascd  personal  attendance,  it  appears  to  this 
meeting,  that  from  the  numerous  engagements  of 
dissenters  in  London,  together  with  the  various  in- 
stitutions belonging  to  themselves,  it  will  not  be  in 
their  power  to  contribute  more  support  to  the  society 
than  they  have  done  hitherto. 

"  3.  That  as  it  appears  that  many  zealous  mem- 
bers of  the  established  church  have  expressed  their 
conscientious  objections  to  unite  with  this  society 
while  its  affairs  are  managed  by  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  persons  of  diflerent  religious  denomina- 
tions, and  have  intimated  their  willingness  to  sup- 
port it,  if  carried  on  exclusively  by  churchmen,  this 
meeting  embraces  this  opportunity  of  proving  that 
they  never,  as  dissenters,  had  any  other  design  but 
the  conversion  of  the  Jews  to  Christianity  ;  and  as 
it  is  probable  that  the  assets  are  nearly  sufficient 
to  cover  the  debts,  they  therefore  cannot  feel  the 
smallest  objection  to  withdraw  in  favor  of  such  of 
their  brethren  of  the  established  church  who  testify 
a  lively  zeal  in  this  grand  cause,  possessing  also 
sufficient  means  for  promoting  it. 

"4.  That  this  meeting  feels  itself  called  upon  to 
express  the  high  sense  they  entertain  of  the  faithful 
and  zealous  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frey  during 
the  continuance  of  this  society,  not  only  in  publish- 
ing to  his  brethren  of  the  house  of  Israel  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  but  also  for  his  unwearied  labors  in 
traveling  through  aH  parts  of  England,  Scotland, 
and  Ireland,  to  make  known  to  Christians  in  gene- 
ral the  design  and  objects  of  the  society,  whereby 


prey's  narrative."  139 

those  funds  have  been  procured  which  were  con- 
stantly found  to  be  so  necessary  to  its  existence. 
"  Joseph  Fox,  Chairman. 

*'5.  That  the  cordial  thanks  of  this  meeting  be 
given  to  Joseph  Fox,  Esq.  for  his  able  conduct  in 
the  chair. 

"  The  said  resolutions  of  the  dissenting  members 
having  been  taken  into  consideration  at  a  very  nu- 
merous meeting  of  the  General  Committee,  held  for 
the  purpose  on  the  17th  instant,  the  subject  was 
discussed  with  a  degree  of  Christian  temper,  for- 
bearance, and  love,  which  is  seldom  witnessed. 
Your  committee  at  length  came  to  the  determina- 
tion of  receiving  the  resolutions,  and  submitting 
them  to  a  general  meeting  of  the  society,  with  such 
new  rules  and  regulations  as  might  be  necessary  in 
consequence  of  our  dissenting  brethren  having  with- 
drawn from  the  management.  It  only  now  remains 
that  your  committee  should  offer  a  fe\w  short  re- 
marks, and  lay  before  you  the  rules  and  regulations 
which  may  be  necessary,  should  the  general  meeting 
acquiesce  in  what  has  been  proposed  by  the  dissent- 
ing members. 

'*  Your  committee  would  remark,  in  the  first 
place,  that  the  pecuniary  situation  of  the  society  is 
distressing  in  a  high  degree,  and  that  it  most  urgent- 
ly requires  the  application  of  a  remedy  without  the 
least  delay.  No  expedient  for  conducting  the  affairs 
of  the  institution,  which  does  not  provide  for  raising 
a  large  sum  of  money,  can  be  efiectual. 

*'  Enough  has  probably  been  said,  to  show  the 
impracticability  of  continuing  the  principle  of  united 
operation  in  the  management  of  this  institution  to 
the  extent  which  has  been  attempted  ;  and  as  the 
resolutions  of  the  dissenting  members  of  the  society, 
now  submitted  to  this  meeting,  seem  calculated  to 


140" 

remove  the  difficulty,  by  effecting  a  separation  in  a 
manner  the  most  agreeable  to  the  feelings  of  Chris- 
tian kindness  and  charity,  your  committee  offer  to 
your  consideration  the  propriety  of  adopting  the 
following  resolution  : 

"  Resolved^  That  this  meeting  is  most  deeply 
sensible  of,  and  most  cordially  and  affectionately 
acknowledges  the  Zealand  liberality  with  which  the 
efforts  of  the  society  have  been  aided  and  supported 
by  Christians  of  various  denominations  throughout 
the  United  Kingdom,  from  its  original  foundation. 
The  present  meeting  most  deeply  regrets  the  diffi- 
culties which  have  arisen  with  respect  to  the  union 
of  the  members  of  the  established  church,  and  other 
Christians,  in  the  management  of  the  society  in 
matters  of  church  order  and  discipline  ;  and  also 
that  the  execution  of  the  rules  proposed  on  the  27th 
of  December  last,  has  not  appeared  practicable. 
Under  circumstances  of  such  diiliculty  as  the  society 
is  now  placed  in,  unity  of  design,  and  principle,  and 
operation,  is  peculiarly  and  indispensably  necessary 
for  its  future  management.  And  as  the  dissenting 
members  have,  with  a  spirit  most  truly  conciliatory, 
offered  to  leave  the  management  of  the  institution 
in  the  hands  of  their  brethren  of  the  established 
church,  this  meeting  do,  with  the  same  spirit  of 
Christian  meekness  and  charity,  ap})rove  and  accept 
the  offer  ;  and  the  members  of  it  who  are  of  the 
established  church,  most  earnestly  beseech  their  dis- 
senting brethren  still  to  favor  them  with  their  pecu- 
niary support,  and,  above  all,  to  aid  them  with  their 
prayers,  that  they  may  be  enabled,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  to  extricate  the  society  from  the  state  of 
difficulty  in  which  it  is  now  placed,  and  to  pursue 
the  great  design  for  which  it  was  instituted,  with 
renewed  efforts  of  Christian  faith,  wisdom,  and  zeal, 


FRBV's    NARRATIVE.  141 

to  the  glory  of  their  common  Lord,  in  the  salvation 
of  Israel. 

"  The  motion  that  the  above  resolution  be  adopted, 
having  been  put  and  seconded,  the  meeting  was  ad- 
dressed by  several  gentlemen,  some  of  them  of  the 
established  church,  and  some  of  them  dissenters, 
on  the  subject  of  the  resolution.  The  dissenting 
gentlemen  expressed  their  determination,  though 
they  had  withdrawn  from  the  management,  still  to 
continue  their  aid  to  the  institution,  both  by  their 
influence  and  example,  and  they  thus  evinced  them- 
selves to  be  actuated  by  principles  of  the  most  ex- 
alted Christian  philanthropy  and  liberality,  which  we 
trust  will  be  both  felt  and  imitated  in  every  part  of 
the  kingdom.  Perhaps  the  history  of  the  Christian 
church  presents  few  examples  of  a  point  of  so  much 
difficulty  and  delicacy  having  been  decided  with 
such  a  happy  union  of  those  sentiments  which  most 
highly  adorn  the  Christian  character.  The  resolu- 
tion passed  unanimously.     It  was  then 

^^  Resolved i  That  the  following  rules  be  added  to 
the  present  rules  and  regulations  of  the  London 
Society  : 

"  1.  That  the  children  under  the  charge  of  the 
society  shall  be  instructed  in  the  principles,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  formularies,  of  the  united  church  of 
England  and  Ireland. 

*'  2.  That  public  worship,  in  the  future  operations 
of  this  society,  shall  be  conducted  in  strict  confor- 
mity to  the  liturgy  and  formularies  of  the  church  of 
England,  as  by  law  established. 

"  3.  That  if,  at  any  time,  a  Jew,  professing  faith 
in  Christ,  and  seeking  for  the  patronage  of  this 
society,  should  entertain  conscientious  scruples  in 
respect  of  conformity  to  the  rites  of  the  church  of 
England,  he  sliall  not  thereby  be  deprived  of,  or 
precluded  from,  temporal  aid  from  this  society,  if 


142 

he  shall  in  other  respects  be  deemed  a  fit  and  pro- 
per object  of  the  patronage  of  this  society. 

"  That  the  following  alterations  be  made  in  the 
existing  rules  of  the  society  : 

*'4th  Rale. — Instead  of  a  committee  of  thirty- 
six  members  to  be  chosen,  twenty-seven  from  the 
old  committee,  viz.  those  who  shall  have  most  fre- 
quently attended,  and  nine  from  the  general  body 
— a  committee  of  twenty-four  members  shall  be 
chosen,  eighteen  from  the  old  committee,  and  six 
from  the  general  body  ;  the  said  committee  to  be 
composed  of  laymen.  All  clergymen  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  society,  or  its  auxiliary  societies,  shall 
have  a  title  to  attend  its  committees,  and  vote  ;  and 
all  presidents  and  secretaries  of  auxiliary  societies, 
and  all  country  directors,  shall  be,  ex  officio,  mem- 
bers of  the  committee. 

*'  6th  Rule. — Instead  of  the  present  rule,  the  fol- 
lowing one  is  adopted  : 

."  The  committee  shall  elect,  at  their  first  meeting 
in  every  year,  three  auditors,  who  shall  be  members 
of  the  society  ;  and  shall,  from  time  to  time,  appoint 
visiters  in  the  school  ;  and  also  such  sub-commit- 
tees as  they  consider  necessary  for  the  despatch  of 
business. 

"  12th  Rule. — Instead  of  the  present  rule,  the 
following  one  is  adopted  : 

*'  Two  anniversary  sermons  shall  be  preached,  at 
such  times  and  at  such  places  of  worship,  con- 
nected with  the  church  of  England,  as  the  committee 
may  think  proper ;  the  committee  to  appoint  the 
preachers." 


trey's  narrative.  143 

A  LETTER  FROM  MR.  JAMES  MILLAR  TO  SIR  THOMAS 
BARING,  BART. 

Great  Cambridge-slreet,  Huckney-Road,  May  19,  1815. 

Sir, 

I  beg  leave  to  address  you  as  the  President  of  the 
London  Society  for  promoting  Christianity  among 
the  Jews,  and  to  request  you  will  oblige  me,  by  ten- 
dering to  the  committee  my  resignation  of  the  office 
of  Assistant  Secretary. 

It  will  be  understood,  that  on  the  change  of  the 
constitution  of  the  society,  I  did  not  feel  that  satis- 
faction which  I  formerly  had,  and  which  had  en- 
couraged me  to  remain  at  my  post,  under  difficulties 
and  inconveniences  such  as,  1  am  inclined  to  think, 
were  unknown  to  any  officer  of  any  other  religious 
institution.  At  the  same  time  I  hope  to  be  dis- 
tinctly understood  as  having  no  difficulty  in  my  mind 
as  to  acting  with  members  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land :  or  that  if  the  society  had  originally  stood  on 
its  present  basis,  it  w  ould  have  presented  to  me  any 
difficulty  at  all.  Allow  me  further  to  remark,  most 
particularly,  that  I  entertain  the  highest  opinion  of 
the  genuine  piety  of  those  gentlemen  into  whose 
hands  the  management  of  the  society  is  now  com- 
mitted. 

In  retiring  from  an  active  concern  in  the  affairs 
of  the  London  Society,  I  beg  leave  to  assure  you, 
sir,  and  the  gentlemen  of  the  committee,  that  I  en- 
tertain an  unalterable  regard  for  the  objects  of  the 
society,  and  a  firm  belief  that  the  unchangeable  pro- 
mises of  God  are  engaged  in  the  ultimate  success 
of  these  objects.  I  shall,  therefore,  feel  it  my  duty 
to  render  any  service  to  the  cause  in  my  power. 

I  beg  leave  also  to  express  my  sincere  acknowledg- 


144 

ments  for  the  candid  manner  in  which  I  have  been 
treated  by  the  committee,  even  on  occasions  when 
(however  great  may  have  been  their  kindness)  I  am 
sensible  they  may  have  discovered  defects  or  failings 
in  me. 

With  the  most  sincere  personal  respect  for  the 
gentlemen  who  compose  the  committee,  and  you, 
sir,  in  particular, 

I  am,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

James  Millar. 

Resolution  of  the  General  Committee  of  the  27th 
June,  1815. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  committee,  consi- 
dering that  Mr.  James  Millar  has  been,  for  nearly 
four  years,  a  faithful  servant,  and  a  steadfast  and 
zealous  friend  of  the  London  Society,  are  desirous 
of  offering  to  him  a  testimony,  both  of  the  high 
value  they  put  upon  his  past  services,  and  of  their 
personal  regard  for  him,  and  that,  for  this  pur- 
pose, they  request  that  he  will  allow  his  name  to 
be  placed  upon  the  list  of  their  honorary  life 
members. 

My  ministerial  labors  having  ceased,  I  still  con- 
tinued with  the  society,  and  endeavored,  to  the  best 
of  my  abilities,  to  be  useful  to  the  cause,  the  edu- 
cation of  missionaries  to  the  Jews,  until  May,  1816, 
when  my  connection  was  dissolved.  But  several 
members  of  the  board  agreed  to  allow  me  an  an- 
nuity of  one  hundred  pounds  for  the  first  year,  and 
fifty  pounds  for  the  next  ten  years,  and  which  has 
been  regularly  paid  through  my  friend,  James  Mil- 
lar, Esq.  In  consulting  with  my  friends  what  plan 
to  pursue,  some  proposed  the  formation  of  a  new 


145 

society  upon  the  old  principles  of  union,  and  wished 
me  to  unite  with  them,  but  I  could  not  bear  the  idea 
of  opposition.    Others  wished  me  to  settle  in  a  con- 
gregation, but  I  had  ever  objected  to  becoming  a 
regular  minister  in  a  Christian  congregation,  and 
thereby  lose  sight  of  the  work  of  a  missionary  to 
my  Jewish  brethren.     I  could  have  rather  chosen 
to  go  to  Germany  ;  but  there  I  should  have  met  with 
the  same  difficulty  of  obtaining  ordination,  and  with- 
out it  I  could  not   have  been   admitted  into   their 
j)ulpits.     Under  these  circumstances  it  was  thought 
best  to  remove  to  this  country,  where,  though  in- 
habited by  few  of  my  Jewish  brethren,  yet  the  har- 
vest is  truly  great,  and  the  laborers  comparatively 
few.  Accordingly,  July  the  23d,  I  left  London  with 
my  family,  and  embarked  on  board  the  brig  Factor, 
Capt.  Malcomb.  Our  passage,  in  the  whole,  through 
mercy,  was  safe  and  pleasant.   We  had  mostly  con- 
trary wind,  and  several  heavy  gales  and  boisterous 
storms.  But,  owing  to  the  almost  unparalleled  atten- 
tion of  the  captain,  not  the  least  damage  was  sus- 
tained in  any  respect  whatever.     By  the  kind  per- 
mission of  Capt.  Malcomb,   we  met  morning  and 
evening  for  family  worship,  when  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  reading  and  expounding  the  sacred  Scrip- 
tures ;  and  on  Sundays,  as  often  as  the  weather  would 
permit,   we  had  a  sermon  on  deck ;  and  as  soon  as 
we  had  obtained  a  sight  of  the  land,  we  all  met  to 
give  thanks  to  the  Lord,  and  I  delivered  a  discourse 
from   John,   3:8,    "  The   wind   bloweth   where    it 
listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst 
not  tell  whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth  ;  so 
is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit."     May  the 
bread  thus  scattered  upon  the  face  of  the  waters  be 
gathered  again  after  many  days.  Early  on  Monday 
morning,    September  8th,  we  observed  the   light- 
house, and  in  the  afternoon  we  passed  Sandy-Hook, 

13 


146 

and  came  to  anchor  in  the  bay.  At  night  the  wind 
began  to  blow  from  the  northeast  most  violently, 
and  continued  so  for  several  days,  and  we  were  pre- 
vented from  getting  into  the  harbor  till  the  loth,  (the 
very  day  on  which  1  set  my  foot  on  the  British  shore 
in  1801.)  It  being  the  Lord's  day,  I  went  imme- 
diately to  church,  and  returned  thanks  to  the  God 
of  providence  for  his  past  mercies,  and  earnestly 
implored  a  continuance  of  his  gracious  presence, 
assistance,  and  blessing,  for  the  future. 

Having  delivered  my  letters  of  introduction  to 
several  ministers,  and  submitted  to  them  other  pa- 
pers and  testimonials,*  I  was  received  by  them  most 

*  Several  reports,  as  false  in  their  nature  as  pernicious  in 
their  effects,  havinir  been  industriously  circulated  respecting 
myselt'and  Mrs.  Frey,  I  think  it  necessary  to  introduce,  on  the 
present  occasion,  at  least  a  few  testimonials. 

Go&port,  July  3,  1816. 

The  departure  of  your  friend  immediately  after  our  lecture 
hours,  prevents  me  from  writing  to  you  at  large.  I  have  only 
time  to  offer  my  best  wishes  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
prosperity  of  3^ou  and  Mrs.  Frey,  and  your  family.  The  in- 
cloi-ed  papers  will,  I  hope,  be  of  service  to  you.  I  shall  be 
happy  to  hear  from  you  before  (you  leave  the  country,  ami 
when  you  are  settled  in  America ;  and  with  earnest  prayers  I 
remain, 

Dear  sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

DAVID  BOGUE. 

The  Rev.  C  F.  Frey,  of  the  seed  of  Abraham,  was  a  student 
of  the  seminary  at  Gosport,  upwards  of  three  years.  I  believe 
him  to  be  a  true  disciple  of  Christ;  I  consider  him  \vell  qua- 
lified to  teach  the  Hebrew  tongue  in  any  of  the  schools  or 
colleges  of  the  United  States ;  and  I  cordially  recommend 
him  to  the  kindness  and  patronage  of  the  friends  of  religion  in 
America. 

DAVID  BOGUE. 

Gosport,  July  3,  1816. 


frey's  narrative.  147 

affectionately,  and  kindly  invited  by  the  different  de- 
nominations to  preach.    On  Sunday  evening,  Sept. 

London  "JliUj  15,  1816. 
1  have  been  well  acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frey,  for 
many  years,  and  admire  him  as  a  man  of  very  respectable  at- 
tainments in  theology,  particularly  in  biblical  knowledge,  and 
acquaintance  with  the  Hebrew  Scriptures.  I  also  esteem 
and  love  him  for  his  piety;  his  talents  lor  preaching  are  of  no 
common  order.  Therefore  I  cordially  recommend  Mr.  Frey  to 
the  friendly  attention  and  influence  of  ministers  and  private  gen- 
tlemen in  America. 

GEORGE  GERMENT,  D.  D. 

We.  the  midersigned,  being  clergymen  of  the  established 
church  of  England,  do  certify  that  we  believe  the  Rev.  Chris- 
tian Frederick  Frey,  the  bearer  of  this  document,  late  preacher 
at  the  Jews'  chapel,  Spitalfields,  London,  from  a  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  him,  to  be  a  truly  Christian  character,  and  to 
be  actuated  by  a  sincere  zeal  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  our 
Savior,  and  the  extension  of  the  Gospel;  and  as  such,  cordially 
recommend  him  to  the  patronage  aed  regard  of  our  Christian 
brethren  in  America, 

THOMAS  SANDERS,  M.  A. 

lol 
GEORGE  WAY,  B.  A. 

Merton  College,  Oxford. 
'    Dated  Siansted  Park,  near  Chichester,  Sussex,  July  \A,\^\Q. 

In  addition  to  the  testimonials  of  my  brother,  the  Rev.  Geo, 
Way,  and  tlie  Rev.  Mr.  Sanders,  minister  of  my  chapel  at  Stan- 
sted  Park,  in  the  county  of  Sussex,  I,  Lewis  Way,  do  hereby 
certify,  that  having  known  the  said  C.  F.  Frey  intimately,  and 
been  connected  with  him  for  upwards  of  three  years  in  the  con- 
cerns of  the  Society  for  promoting  Christianity  among  the  Jews, 
do  believe  him  to  be  an  honest  man,  and  a  sincere  Christian  ; 
and  I  can,  from  myovv^n  knowledge,  conscientiously  recommend 
him  to  the  notice  and  protection  of  my  brethren  of  the  church 
of  Christ  in  any  part  of  the  world,  either  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
struction in  Hebrew,  or  for  the  extension  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Gospel  in  a  ministerial  or  any  other  capacity. 

Witness  my  hand,  this  8th  day  of  Julv,  1816. 

LEWIS  WAY. 

That  Mrs.  Frey's  moral  character  was  unimpeached  at  the 
iime  we  left  London,  is  evident  from  her  being  a  most  active 


148  prey's  narrative. 

22,  I  delivered  my  first  sermon  in  Dr.  Romeyn's 
church,  to  a  crowded  and  most  attentive  congrega- 
tion, from  Job,  19  :  25,  ''  I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth."  Blessed  truth  !  Jesus,  my  Savior,  not  only 
died  for  my  offences,  but  also  rose  for  my  justifica- 
tion ;  nay,  he  also  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  ever 
living  to  make  intercession  for  us.  To  him  I  look 
for  wisdom,  grace,  and  strength,  equal  to  my  day  ; 

member  of  the  ladies'  society,  from  her  connection  and  corres- 
pondence with  some  most  respectable  and  pious  ladies  in  Lon- 
don, and  particularly  from  the  following  certificate  of  the  church 
where  she  has  been  a  member  upwards  often  years: 

This  is  to  certify,  that  Mrs.  Hannah  Frey  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  Christ,  assembling  in  Hoxton  Academy 
Chapel,  London,  for  some  years,  and  having  been  converted 
from  among  God's  ancient  people,  the  Jews,  we  commend  her 
to  the  affectionate  care  of  the  Lord's  people  in  America.  Done 
at  the  church  meeting,  this  17lh  day  of  July,  1816. 

JAMES  KEMP,  }  p.  _^^^ 
EDW.  MASON,  5  ^eaconb. 

Hoxton  Academy  Chapel,  London, 

Extract  from  the  Register  of  Baptisms. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Frey,  (then  Hannah  Cohen,)  was  baptized 
at  Hoxton  Academy  Chapel,  on  the  18th  day  of  September, 
1806,  by  the  Rev.  R.  Simpsoj),  A.  M.  tutor  of  Hoxton  Aca- 
demy. 

John,  son  of  Joseph  Samuel  C.  F.  Frey,  and  Hannah  Frey, 
Steward  St.,  born  Sept.  6,  1807.  Baptized  Oct.  4,  1807.  Rev. 
J.  Atkinson. 

Rebekah,  daughter  of  J.  S.  C.  F.  Frey,  and  Hannah  Frey, 
born  March  17,  1809,  Baptized  April  16,  1809.  Rev.  T. 
Thomas. 

Sarah,  daughter  of  J.  S.  C.  F.  Frey,  and  Hannali  Frey, 
born  October  22,  1810.  Baptized  November  25,  1810,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hunt.     . 

Esther,  daughter  of  J.  S.  C.  F.  Frey,  and  Hannah  Frey, 
born  June  21,  1812.  Baptized  July  20,  1812,  by  the  Rev.  B. 
Ray  son. 

The  above  are  true  extracts, 

EDW.  MASON, 

Deacon  and  Registrar. 


FREY  S    NARRATIVE. 


149 


and  after  I  have  done  and  suffered  his  will  on  earth, 
I  humbly  hope  to  join  the  song  of  Moses  and  of  the 
Lamb  in  the  kingdom  above,  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen.     Hallelujah. 

Thus  ended  my  narrative,  published  soon  after 
my  arrival  in  this  country.  I  shall  now  add  a  brief 
account  of  my  labors  up  to  the  present  time. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

LABORS    IN    THIS    COUNTRY. 

From  the  pilot  that  came  on  board,  we  learned 
that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mason  had  gone  to  England  on 
account  of  ill  health.  This  information  was  very 
painful  and  discouraging,  as  he  was  the  principal 
person  to  whom  my  letters  of  introduction  were  di- 
rected, and  to  whom  I  looked  for  patronage  and  ad- 
vice. Like  good  old  Jacob,  I  was  ready  to  conclude, 
"all  these  things  are  against  me  ;"  but  I  soon  dis- 
covered, like  him,  that  instead  of  being  injurious,  it 
was  of  considerable  use  to  me.  In  the  first  place,  it 
gave  me  an  opportunity  of  supplying  his  pulpit  regu- 
larly for  some  time;  and  in  the  second  place,  it  ena- 
bled him  to  ascertain  my  standing  at  the  time  I  left 
England,  and  to  know  the  correctness  of  my  testi- 
monials, as  will  appear  hereafter.  Some  time  after 
my  arrival,  it  was  proposed  to  me,  by  three  gentle- 
men, to  attempt  the  formation  of  an  independent  or 
congregational  church.  As  I  was  always  connected 
in  England  with  that  denomination,  I  could  see  no 
objection.  Accordingly  I  commenced,  in  June,  1817, 
to  preach  in  a  school-house  in  Mulberry-street. 
But  this  place  proved  by  far  too  small,  although  it 
was  twice  enlarged.     The  congregation  purchased 

13* 


150  FREY'S    NARRATIVE. 

a  place  of  worship  in  Pearl-street,  which  had  lately 
been  occupied  by  the  Universalists,  but,  this  also  be- 
in^  too  small  for  the  multitude  that  flocked  to  hear 
"  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God,"  they 
erected  a  house  of  worship  in  Vandewater-street. 

I  had  not  preached  long  in  the  school-house  before 
a  church  was  formed,  and  they  gave  me  a  call  to 
become  their  pastor.  But,  as  rumors  unfavorable 
to  my  character  had  been  whispered  about,  I  refused 
to  accept  of  a  call  until  the  return  of  Dr.  Mason 
from  Europe,  to  testify  respecting  my  character. 
Soon  after  his  arrival,  a  committee  was  appointed 
by  the  church,  vvho  waited  on  the  doctor,  and  pre- 
sented a  letter  from  the  church,  containing  several 
queries  respecting  my  character.  The  doctor  hav- 
ing been  informed  by  the  oflicers  of  his  church  that 
I  was  supplying  his  pulpit,  and  requested  to  investi- 
gate the  reports  in  circulation,  informed  the  commit- 
tee, and  also  the  church,  by  letter,  that  he  had  made 
diligent  inquiry,  and  could  testify  that  the  reports 
were  vile  slanders,  and  my  testimonials  correct  and 
true.  The  churcli,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  having  ex- 
pressed their  perfect  satisfaction,  I  accepted  their 
call,  and  was  ordained  as  their  pastor,  on  Wednesday, 
April  15th,  1818,  by  the  Westchester  and  Morris 
County  Presbytery.*  At  my  examination  for  ordi- 
nation, the  presbytery  not  only  carefully  examined 
my  credentials  and  testimonials,  but  also  appointed 
the  Rev.  Stephen  Grover,  and  Gen.  Wm.  Gould,  of 
Caldwell,  N.  J.  (both  are  still  living)  as  a  committee 
to  wait  on  the  Rev.  Dr.  Romeyn,  and  other  clergy- 
men, to  make  inquiry  into  my  character  and  stand- 
ing since  I  came  to  New- York.  Having  received 
perfect  satisfaction,  my  ordination  was  agreed  to  by 

*  The  government  of  the  churches  are  strictly  independeiU, 
or  congrega*,iona!. 


frey's  narrative.  I5i 

a  unanimous  vote,  as  appears  by  a  copy  of  their  mi^ 
nutes,  now  before  me. 

In  1820,  several  circumstances  occurred  which 
3ed  the  congregation  and  myself  to  dissolve  our  con- 
nection with  that  body,  and  to  apply  to  the  New- 
York  Presbytery  for  admission.  But,  lest  there 
should  yet  remain  some  i)rejudice  against  my  cha- 
racter, I  requested  of  the  presbytery  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  to  examine  my  testimonials, 
and  to  write  to  England  for  further  information. 
This  being  done,  and  satisfactory  answers  received, 
I  was  admitted  a  member  of  that  respectable  body 
in  October,  1821. 


CHAPTER  X. 

ORIGIN  AiND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  SOCIETY 
FOR  MELIORATING  THE  CONDITION  OF  THE 
JEWS. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  in  this  country,  I  received 
a  letter  from  D.  Marc,  one  of  my  converted  Jewish 
brethren,  proposing  the  establishment  of  a  "  Chris- 
tian Jewish  Settlements^  in  this  country.  From  this 
letter  1  give  the  following  extract,  which,  I  believe, 
will  be  read  with  considerable  interest : 

"  From  the  time  it  has  pleased  God  to  call  me 
from  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light,  next  to  the 
care  of  the  salvation  of  my  own  soul,  was  the  sal- 
vation of  my  people,  and  kindred,  that  occupied  my 
heart  most.  My  prayer  was  for  my  soul,  and  my  re- 
quest for  my  people.  By  mature  consideration,  I  soon 
saw  that  we  could  not  reasonably  expect  an  extensive 
spread  of  Christianity  among  the  Jews,  at  least  not 
a  great  number  of  true  converts,  until  Christians 
establish,  or  form,  a  Christian  Jewish  settlement. 


152  FRET'S    NARRATIVE. 

"  There  are  many  difficulties  in  the  way  of  a  Jew, 
by  which  the  very  first  idea  in  favor  of  Christianity 
is  arrested  in  its  progress.  Some  of  these  difficul- 
ties are, 

'*!.  The  ungodly  lives  of  nominal  Christians. 

'*2.  The  want  of  kindness  among  many  who  arc 
true  and  sincere  Christians,  but  whose  heart  the 
Lord  has  not  vet  stirred  up  to  compassion  towards 
this  afflicted  nation. 

"3.  The  dreadful  idea  to  separate  from  a  na- 
tion, whose  distinct  and  lasting  existence,  as  a  pecu- 
liar people,  God  had  so  clearly  promised,  saying, 
*  Though  I  make  a  full  end  of  all  nations  whither 
I  have  scattered  thee,  yet  will  I  not  make  an  end  of 
thee.'    Jer.  30:11. 

"4.  That  brotherly  love  which  he  enjoys  among 
his  own  people,  but  which  he  no  where  else  observes 
in  such  a  degree. 

"5.  The  mere  idea  of  going  among  Christians 
excites  in  him  a  timidity  indescribable. 

"6.  The  greatest  difficulty  lies  in  the  way  of  the 
poor.  Where  is  he  to  seek  for  help  and  assistance 
in  time  of  need?  He  stands  alone  in  the  world  ;  he 
is  forsaken  by  his  Jewish  brethren  ;  and  to  apply  to 
Christians — the  very  thought  is  painful  to  his  feel- 
ings ;  and  from  their  past  conduct  to  Jews,  he  is 
apprehensive  to  be  looked  upon,  nay,  even  treated 
as  a  self-interested  hypocrite. 

"All  these  difficulties  might  be  removed  by  form- 
ing a  Christian  Jewish  settlement.  Such  a  colony 
ought  to  be  established  upon  plans  well  matured, 
with  all  possible  precaution  and  Christian  prudence. 
The  advantages  of  such  an  institution  are  many  : 

"1.  It  would  excite  the  attention  of  the  Jews 
in  every  part  of  the  world. 

'*2.  It  would  be  the  most  suitable  to  carry  on  a 
friendly  correspondence  with  the  Jews  on  the  sub- 


frey's  narrative.  153 

ject  of  Christianity,  especially,  if  it  should  contain  a 
number  of  pious  and  learned  men. 

"  3.  It  would  be  of  great  use  to  those  Jews  among 
the  Roman  Catholics,  Mahometans,  and  Heathens, 
who,  through  the  multitude  of  superstitions  and 
errors  mixed  with  the  truth,  and  the  numerous 
sects  among  Christians,  are  at  a  loss  both]  how  to 
judge  of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  and  which  sect  or 
denomination  they  are  to  join. 

"In  Germany,  and  in  most  places  in  Europe,  the 
nature  of  the  governments,  and  especially  the  pre- 
judice of  the  people,  is  very  unfavorable  to  the  for- 
mation of  such  a  colony,  whilst  America  possesses 
every  advantage  for  such  an  institution. 

"In  that  extensive  country,  there  must  yet  be 
much  ground  uncultivated  and  uninhabited.  There, 
where,  every  year,  colonies  of  poor  people  meet  with 
assistance  and  encouragement,  might  not  a  similar 
favor  be  shown  to  Abraham's  seed,  every  where 
else  oppressed  and  persecuted  ?  /  aak^  now,  whether 
you  would  be  loUling  to  form  a  society  of  proper  per- 
sons to  assist  in  this  undertaking  ?  The  assistance 
necessary  would  be, 

"J.  To  select  and  procure  a  proper  place  for  a 
settlement  for  200  families. 

"2.  To  facilitate,  as  much  as  possible,  their  pas- 
sage from  Europe  in  American  vessels. 

"3.  To  assist  them,  in  case  of  necessity,  during 
the  first  year. 

"This  subject  needs  no  farther  recommendation 
to  the  true  Christian  ;  nor  will  any  be  required  by 
the  philanthropist,  who  considers  the  barbarity  and 
cruelty  with  which  the  Jews  are  oppressed  in  most 
parts  of  the  world.  Nor  can  it  be  doubted  that, 
after  so  long  and  bitter  a  persecution,  they  would  be 
most  faithful  and  zealous  adherents  to  a  country  of 
so  liberal  a  constitution  as  that  of  the  United  States. 


154  frey's  narrative. 

"Assistance  may  be  expected  from  the  London 
Society,  as  well  as  from  other  Christian  countries, 
especially  in  Germany,  where  many  true  Christians, 
and  persons  of  great  influence,  are  ready  to  assist, 
with  all  their  power,  to  promote  this  object." 

Although  I  was  much  pleased  with  this  proposi- 
tion, and  had  but  little  doubt  of  its  success,  yet 
having  already  met  with  so  much  ill-will,  opposition, 
and  trouble,  in  my  former  eflbrts  to  promote  the 
salvation  of  my  brethren,  and  having  but  lately 
come  to  this  country,  I  did  not  communicate  the 
contents  of  this  letter  to  any  person,  but  pondered 
it  much  in  my  heart,  and  spread  it  frequently  before 
the  Lord.  However,  the  subject  was  pressed  upon 
me  by  several  other  letters,  the  last  of  which  closed 
with  these  words  :  "I  now  call  heaven  and  earth 
to  witness  that  I  have  laid  before  you  a  plan  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  salvation  of  our  Jewish  breth- 
ren, and  which  requires  nothing  but  your  exertions, 
which,  if  you  refuse,  remember  that  the  blood  of 
our  brethren  will  be  found  on  the  skirt  of  your  gar- 
ment." After  this  solemn  and  awful  exhortation  I 
could  no  longer  rest.  Immediately  I  translated  his 
first  letter,  and  resolved  to  lay  it  before  "the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Society,  instituted  in  Morris 
county,  N.  J.,  for  promoting  learning  and  religion," 
of  which  I  was  a  trustee.  On  the  17th  of  April, 
1819,  in  my  way  to  meet  the  board,  on  entering 
Newark,  I\vas  overtaken  by  a  most  awful  thunder- 
storm. Having  taken  shelter  in  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Griffin,  I  informed  him  of  the  object  I  had 
in  view  in  visiting  New-Jersey,  and  read  the  letter 
of  Mr.  Marc,  after  which  we  had  a  long  and  very 
interesting  conversation  on  the  present  and  future 
state  of  my  Jewish  brethren.  The  doctor,  who  is 
well  known  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  all  benevolent 
institutions,  manifested  a  peculiar  sympathy  towards 


frey'^  narrative:.  -    155 

the  wandering  sheep  of  Israel,  greatly  encouraged 
my  heart,  and  became  one  of  the  first  and  warmest 
advocates  of  this  institution.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
board  I  was  authorized  to  invite  Mr.  Marc  to  come 
to  this  country,  at  our  expense,  to  act  as  agent  in 
executing  the  plan  suggested  by  him.  Having  com- 
municated to  him  this  resolution,  and  received  for 
answer  that  he  could  not  accept  of  this  invitation 
on  account  of  his  previous  engagements  with  the 
London  Society,  the  Rev.  Stephen  Grover,  of  Cauld- 
well,  together  with  myself,  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  consult  with  ministers  and  other  gentlemen, 
and  especially  with  the  late  Dr.  Boudinot,  on  the 
expediency  of  forming  a  society  for  the  purpose  of 
colonizing  and  evangelizing  the  Jews. 

In  pursuance  of  this  appointment,  Mr.  Grover 
being  prevented  from  accompanying  me,  I  proceeded 
alone  to  Burlington.  In  my  way  thither  I  called  on 
the  late  Dr.  Livingston,  and  consulted  with  him  on 
the  subject,  who,  after  full  and  mature  considera- 
tion, drew  up  and  signed  the  following  :   "Having 

understood,  by  a  letter  from  Mr. ,  a  Christian 

Jew,  as  well  as  by  letters  from  James  Millar,  Esq. 
of  London,  that  an  ardent  wish  prevails  among 
some  Christian  Jews  in  Germany  to  emigrate  to  the 
United  States,  for  the  express  purpose  of  forming 
a  settlement ;  to  obtain,  without  interruption,  instruc- 
tion for  themselves  ;  and  to  promote  more  effectually 
the  Christian  religion  among  the  Jews;  we,  whose 
names  are  underwritten,  do  hereby  certify,  that  as 
far  as  the  object  is  at  present  comprehended  by  us, 
we  most  cordially  approve  of  the  same."  Thus 
encouraged,  I  went  on  my  way  rejoicing,  and  at 
Princeton  I  called  on  the  Rev.  Drs.  Green,  Alexan- 
der, and  Miller,  who,  after  fervent  prayer,  and  much 
serious  deliberation,  signed  the  preceding  para- 
graph, I  now  proceeded  to  Burlington,  where  I  was 


156  FREY  S    NARRATIVE, 

received  by  the  late  venerable  Dr.  Boudinot  with 
the  greatest  cordiality  and  friendship.  Having  sub- 
mitted to  him  the  proposed  object  and  plan,  together 
with  various  documents  on  the  subject,  and  con- 
versed much  about  the  state  of  the  dispersed  in  Ju- 
dah  and  the  long-lost  tribes  of  Israel,  he  communi- 
cated to  me  his  opinion  in  the  following  letter  : 

Burlington,  JVore>»^er  26,  1819. 

*'Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

*'  I  have  carefully  attended  to  the  important  sub- 
ject of  our  last  evening's  conversation.  It  is  only 
to  a  part  of  your  plan,  that  is  of  minor  consequence, 
to  which  I  have  at  present  any  objection.. As  I  have 
but  a  few  minutes  to  express  my  opinion  in  writing, 
your  own  memory  will  furnish  you  with  particulars. 
My  present  design  is  to  express,  in  as  short  a  man- 
ner as  possible,  my  cordial  acquiescence  in  the 
whole  of  your  designs,  if  pursued  with  caution  in 
the  detail.  My  w  ish  would  be  to  revive,  as  soon  as 
convenient,  the  late  society  for  evangelizing  the 
Jews,  established  in  New- York  a  few  years  since — 
that  they  should  apply,  without  further  explanation, 
for  a  charter  of  incorporation,  to  the  legislature,  at 
their  next  session  ;  afterwards  a  plan  of  further  pro- 
ceedings, and  the  appointnient  of  the  proper  officers, 
may  then  take  place,  and  every  proper  measure 
pursued  for  the  effecting  so  useful  and  essential  a 
business  to  the  church  of  Christ ;  and  may  he  bless 
you  in  all  you  do,  agreeably  to  his  rich  promises  in 
the  Gospel. 

*'  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  every  sentiment  of 
respect  and  esteem, 

"  Rev.  and  dear  sir, 

"  Yours  in  our  common  Lord, 

^'  ELIAS  BOUDINOT. 

"  Rev.  J.  S,  C.  F.  Frey^' 


FREY  S    NARRATIVE.  157 

With  great  thankfulness  to    the  God  of   Provi- 
clence,  I  now  returned  to  New- York,  and  called  on 
most  of   the  ministers  of  different  denominations, 
and  invited  them  to  attend  a  meeting  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  into  consideration  the  expediency  of 
forming  a  society  for   colonizing  and  evangelizing 
the  Jews.    They  all  promised  to  attend  ;  and  on  the 
day  appointed  they  fulfilled  their  promise,  I  believe, 
without   exception.      At  this  meeting,   after  a  full 
discussion  of  the  subject,  it  was   resolved  to  have 
another  meeting,  and  that  every  minister  present 
was  to  bring  with  him  two  lay  members  of  his  con- 
gregation.   Accordingly  a  large  meeting  took  place, 
when  it  was  unanimously  resolved,  that  it   is  expe- 
dient to  form  a  society  for  colonizing  and  evange- 
lizing the  Jews ;  and  at  the  next  meeting,  held  on 
the  8th  of  February,  1820,  the  society  was  actually 
formed,  a  constitution  adopted,  officers  chosen,  and 
I  was   appointed  to  apply  to  the  legislature  for  a 
charter.     Accordingly  I  went  to  Albany,  where,  at 
first,  I  met  with  considerable  discouragement,  owing 
to  the  nature  of  the   application  being  novel  in  its 
kind,  and  radically   different   from  other  societies. 
However,  having  given  public  notice  that  I  intended 
preaching  a  sermon  on  the  past  and  present  state  of 
the  Jews,  a  large  assembly  was  collected,  and  a  great 
interest  excited.    The  very  next  day  the  subject  was 
introduced  into  both  houses,  and  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee.    Whilst  the  subject  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
committee,  some  objections  were   made  against  the 
words  "  colonizing  and  evangelizing.^^     I  agreed  to 
the  proposal  of  erasing  both  words  out  of  the  title, 
and  substituting  the  word  "  meliorating,"  and  under 
this   title   the   society  was  incorporated  by  an  act 
passed  on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1820. 

The  original  title  of  the  society,  viz.  "  The  Ame- 
rican  Society  for  colonizing  and  evangelizing  the 

14 


158  FREYS    NARRATIVE/ 

Jews,"  was  much  better  than  the  present,'  for  it 
explained  at  once  the  object  and  design  of  the  insti- 
tution.  The  former  was  the  means  to  accomplish 
the  latter.  The  Jews  were  to  be  gathered  into  s 
colony,  that  there  they  might  have  an  opportunity 
of  earning  their  bread  by  their  own  industry,  and 
at  the  same  time  be  instructed  and  established  in 
the  doctrines  and  principles  of  Cliristianity.  But 
although  the  legislature,  at  the  time  of  granting  an 
act  of  incorporation,  thought  it  proper  to  alter  the 
iitle,  yet  the  original  intention  and  piirjwse  of  the 
society  js  still  the  saine^  as  is  evident  from  the  second 
article  of  the  constitution,  which  reads  thus: 

"  The  object  of  this  society  is  to  invite  and  receive, 
from  any  part  of  the  world,  such  Jews  as  do  already 
profess  the  Christian  religion,  or  are  desirous  to  re- 
ceive Christian  instruction,  to  form  them  into  a  set- 
tlement, and  to  furnish  them  wiih  the  ordinances  of 
the  Gospel,  and  with  such  employment  in  the  settle- 
ment as  shall  be  assigned  them  ;  but  no  one  shall 
be  received  unless  he  comes  well  recommended  for 
morals  and  industry,  and  without  charge  to  this 
society  ;  and  both  his  reception  and  continuance  in 
the  settlement  shall  be  at  all  times  at  the  discretiori 
of  the  directors." 

Although  the  society  was  now  incorporated,  yet 
two  full  years  passed  by  without  any  attempt  made 
to  promote  its  noble  object.  The  members  of  the 
board  became  very  much  discouraged,  and  for  two 
or  three  successive  monthly  meetings  we  could  not 
get  a  quorum.  One  day,  whilst  writing  a  letter  to 
Germany,  to  propose,  as  the  last  dying  effort,  the 
formation  of  a  society  to  furnish  the  inquiring  Jew 
with  testimonials,  a  friend  entered  my  study  with 
the  pleasing,  important,  and  seasonable  intelligence, 
that  God  had  raised  up  a  nobleman  in  Germany, 
who  had  established  an  asylum  as  a  nursery  to  our 


169 

settlement,  and  that  his  agent  had  arrived  at  Bos- 
ton, with  desjiatches  to  our  society,  for  co-operation. 
I  need  not  tell  you,  nor  is  it  possible  to  describe,  the 
joy  and  gratitude  of  my  heart.  I  laid  down  my  pen, 
and  patiently,  or  rather  with  impatience,  waited  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  Jadoimiicky.  In  a  few  days  he  arrived. 
The  board  was  convened.  The  agent  produced  his 
credentials,  and  delivered  several  documents  ex- 
pressive of  the  wish  of  Count  Von  der  Recke.  The 
meeting  was  very  full ;  tears  of  joy  were  seen  to 
steal  down  the  cheeks  of  some  of  the  venerable 
fathers  present ;  and  the  language  of  all  was,  "  Now, 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  let  us  go  forward."  But 
what  was  to  be  done  ?  Hitherto  no  assistance  had 
been  solicited.  The  subject  was  altogether  new, 
radically  different  from  all  other  benevolent  institu- 
tions ;  the  public  needed  much  information,  which 
could  not  easily  be  communicated  by  mere  addresses 
from  the  press.  An  agent  was  wanted  to  ti*avel 
through  the  country.  Gladly  would  I  have  gone, 
but  I  was  then  under  a  promise  to  my  congregation 
to  solicit  aid  for  them  in  the  New-England  states. 
This  caused  another  delay  of  twelve  months.  Hav- 
ing fulfilled  my  engagement,  by  mutual  application 
to  the  presbytery,  my  pastoral  connexion  with  the 
church  was  dissolved  in  Sept.  1822,  and  I  engaged 
as  agent  to  the  society.  In  my  first  tour  to  the  south, 
during  six  months  I  traveled  2,305  miles  by  land, 
preached  196  times,  collected  about  4,600  dollars, 
and  formed  51  auxiliary  societies. 

Thus  I  continued  traveiin<]^  as  ao;ent  for  several 
years,  collecting  many  thousand  dollars,  and  formed 
more  than  four  hundred  auxiliary  societies.  The 
question  has  often  been  asked,  in  a  variety  of  ways, 
and  from  different  motives,  "What  has  Mr.  Frey 
done  with  all  the  money  he  has  collected  i"'  With 
pleasure  I  take  this  opportunity  of  replying     I  have 


160  frey's  narrative. 

done  with  the  money  as  every  agent  ought  to  do,  I 
delivered  it  to  the  treasurer,  and  received  my  re- 
ceipt. That  this  is  the  case,  will  appear,  first,  from 
the  following  general  certificate  : 

"It  is  hereby  certified  that  the  accounts  of  the 
Rev.  C.  F.  Frey,  as  agent  of  the  American  Society 
for  meliorating  the  condition  of  the  Jews,  were  au- 
dited and  settled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
board,  on  his  ceasing  to  be  their  agent. 
"  By  order  of  the  Board, 

"  W.  F.  Piatt,  Rec  Sec. 

"  Neic-York,  March  Ulh,  1829." 

And,  secondly,  from  the  treasurer's  account,  pub- 
lished monthly  in  Israel's  Advocate,  containing  a  list 
of  all  collections  made,  or  money  received  by  me 
and  delivered  to  the  treasurer,  a  copy  of  which  pub- 
lication was  sent  to  every  congregation  where  I  had 
preached  and  collected.  But  if  the  question  be  ask- 
ed, what  have  the  board  done  with  the  money  .''  I 
reply,  with  deep  regret,  the  board  will  have  to  give 
an  awful  account  of  it,  if  not  to  man,  yet  certainly 
unto  God.  As  a  director  of  the  board,  I  have  this 
testimony  of  my  conscience,  that  my  name  is  on  re- 
cord as  protesting  against  their  proceedings  for  the 
last  two  years  of  my  attendance. 

In  1826,  finding  that  there  were  more  than 
$16,000  in  the  treasury,  and  nothing  done  for  meli- 
orating the  condition  of  the  Jews,  I  could  neither 
seethe  necessity  nor  the  justice  of  my  continuing 
any  longer  agent,  and  eat  the  bread  of  idleness.  [ 
therefore  resigned  my  agency  and  returned  to  my 
ministerial  labors. 


■5fi4Ev'S    NARRATIVE.  161 

CHAPTER  XL 

HIS  CHANGE  OF  VIEWS  ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF  BAPTISM* 

It  having  been  contemplated  by  a  number  of  re- 
spectable  citizens  to  form  a  settlement  at  Yorkville, 
I  removed  thither  with  my  family,  opened  a  school, 
and  preached  regularly  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  week 
ijvenings.  During  my  residence  at  this  place,  an 
important  change  took  place  in  my  views  on  the  sub- 
ject of  baptism.  The  circumstances  which  led  to  it 
are  as  follows  :  At  the  christening  of  one  of  my 
children,  together  with  others,  the  minister  exhort- 
ed us  *'to  bring  up  our  children  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord."  This  scriptural,  solemn, 
and  affectionate  exhortation  was  enforced  by  ob- 
serving, "  These  children  are  now  members  of  the 
churchy  adopted  into  the  fa7nily  of  God,''''  <fct;.  &c. 
These  declarations  were  forcibly  impressed  upon  my 
mind,  as  if  I  had  never  heard  them  before.  They 
appeared  to  me,  at  that  moment,  inconsistent  with 
the  doctrine  of  perseverance.  I  resolved,  therefore, 
not  to  present  another  child  of  my  own,  nor  to  bap- 
tize the  children  of  any  other,  before  I  had  tho- 
roughly investigated  the  subject. 

In  June,  1827,  the  Lord  blessed  me  with  another 
chihl,  and  immediately  my  resolution  to  investigate 
the  subject  of  baptism,  before  I  could  present  ano- 
ther child,  came  to  my  recollection.  Accordingly 
I  gave  myself  to  reading,  meditation,  and  prayer. 
After  carefully  comparing  the  best  books,  on  both 
sides  of  the  question,  with  the  word  of  God,  I  came 
to  the  full  conviction  that  believers  are  the  only  sub- 
jects of  baptism.,  and  that  immersion  is  the  only  scrip- 


162  frey's  narrative 

tural  mode.  I  now  felt  it  my  duty  to  obey  the  com 
mand  of  my  Lord  and  Savior  to  be  baptized,  i.  e. 
immersed.  Therefore,  without  conferring  with  flesh 
and  blood,  or  fearing  the  consequences,  I  proposed 
myself  as  a  candidate  to  the  Baptist  Church,  Mul- 
berry-street, New- York,  inider  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  Rev.  A.  Maclay,  by  whom  I  was  baptized  on 
Lord's  day,  Aug.  28th,  1827.  The  arguments  which 
produced  the  change  have  been  published  in  essays, 
the  third  edition  of  which  is  now  before  the  public. 
Having  received  a  call  from  the  Baptist  church  at 
Newark,  N.  J.,  I  removed  thither  in  January,  1828, 
continuing  to  exercise  the  pastoral  office  until  April, 
1830,  when  I  accepted  a  call  from  the  church  at 
Sing-Sing,  in  this  state.  Here  I  continued  two  years. 
Hitherto  the  Lord  has  continued  to  me  a  far  greater 
measure  of  health  than  falls  to  the  lot  of  most  men. 
Hence  I  have  been  enabled  to  travel,  labor,  and 
preach  for  more  than  thirty  years,  almost  without 
interruption.  Besides  my  stated  labors  since  1  have 
joined  the  Baptist  denomination,  I  have  spent,  every 
year,  a  portion  of  time  in  visiting  the  churches,  and 
preaching  daily  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God.  In  the  first  journey  I  spent  six  weeks  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  New-England  states.  The  next 
year  I  traveled  for  three  months  in  the  states  of 
New- Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  District  of 
Columbia,  and  Virginia.  My  next  tour  has  been 
through  the  states  of  New- York,  Vermont,  and  part 
of  Massachusetts,  for  five  months.  Last  year  I  went 
as  far  as  New-Orleans,  through  the  states  of  Virginia, 
North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Alabama, 
and  back  through  Alabama,  Tennessee,  Kentucky, 
and  Ohio  ;  about  8,000  miles  in  eight  months,  visit- 
ing two  hundred  and  seventy-six  churches,  and 
j)reaching  about  three  hundred  times.  Since  my  ar- 
rival in  this  country  in  1816,  I  have  been  enabled 


yftEv's    NARRATIVE,  163 

to  preach  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventeen 
times ;  and  I  have  reason  to  hope  my  labors  have 
not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

Thus,  hke  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  I  have 
moved  about  from  place  to  place,  having  no  conti- 
nuing city  here  ;  but  I  humbly  hope  and  trust  I  am 
traveling  to  a  better  country,  even  an  heavenly. 
May  my  future  days  be  more  holy,  more  humble, 
and  more  useful ;  and  the  glory  shall  be  to  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  one  Jehovah,  now 
and  for  ever. 

ELDER  C.  F.  FREY. 

The  following  is  a  most  complete  vindication  of 
brother  C.  F.  Frey  frotn  the  aspersions  cast  upon 
him  at  the  West ;  some  of  which  were  uttered  in  our 
hearing,  and  at  once  resisted.  Few  who  heard  them, 
we  imagine,  gave  them  credence  ;  still  it  will  be 
gratifying  to  them  to  read  a  refutation,  removing 

every  vestige  of  doubt.     The  confident  Mr.  S , 

of  H ,  will  become  modest  after  perusing  this 

statement;  and  if  he  thinks  of  the  ninth  command- 
ment in  the  fear  of  his  Maker,  he  will  hardly  feel 
acquitted  without  some  confessions  to  the  worthy 
individual  he  has  slandered, — N.  Y.  Baptist  Re- 
gister. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Baptist  Register. 

Dear  Sir — Having  been  called  upon  for  infor- 
mation in  relation  to  certain  reports  which  have  been 
put  in  circulation  respecting  our  esteemed  brother, 
C.  F.  Frey,  we  desire  to  make  known  to  the  public, 
through  the  medium  of  your  paper,  what  we  believe 


164 

to  be  unquestionable  facts,  which  show  that  these 
reports  are  totally  and  absolutely  untrue. 

The  reports  to  which  we  refer  are  in  substance 
as  follows  : 

1.  That  Mr.  Frey,  when  he  came  to  this  country, 
had  absconded  from  England  with  £3,000  sterling 
of  money  collected  by  him  for  the  London  Society 
for  promoting  Christianity  among  the  Jews. 

2.  That  he  embezzled  the  money  collected  by  him 
for  the  American  Society  for  meliorating  the  condi- 
condition  of  the  Jews. 

3.  That,  in  consequence  of  this,  he  had  been  ex- 
communicated from  the  New- York  Presbytery,  and 
therefore  became  a  Baptist. 

1.  With  respect  to  the  first  of  these  rej)orts,  we 
have  to  say,  tlnyit  when  3Ir.  Frey  came  to  this  coun- 
try, he  brought  from  men  of  the  first  standing  in 
England,  the  most  satisfactory  testimonials  of  the 
uprightness  of  his  deportment,  and  the  excellency 
of  his  character  as  a  Christian,  and  as  a  Christian 
minister. 

When  Mr.  Frey's  connection  with  the  society  in 
London  for  promoting  Christianity  among  the  Jews 
was  dissolved,  a  number  of  gentlemen  belonging  to 
the  committee  of  management  (among  whom  were 
Sir  Thomas  Baring,  Rev.  Lewis  Way,  and  Rev. 
Charles  Simeon)  settled  upon  him  an  annuity  of 
XlOO  for  the  first  year,  and  £50  for  the  next  ten 
years,  which  has  been  regularly  paid  through  the 
medium  of  James  Millar,  Esq.  the  secretary  of  the 
society. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Frey  arrived  in  this  country,  his 
credentials  having  been  examined,  ho  was  appointed 
to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Rev.  John  M.  Mason, 
D.  D.  who  was  then  on  a  visit  to  Europe.  As  some 
insinuations  unfavorable  to  Mr.  F.'s  character  were 
circulated,  Dr.  Mason  was  requested  to  inquire  into 


166 

the  subject.  Having  done  so,  he  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  church  that  had  just  been  formed  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Mr.  Frey,  stating  iinreservedli/,  thett 
the  charges  aofainst  Mr.  F.  were  unfounded,  and  his 
reputation  unblemished. 

Mr.  Frey  and  his  congregation  applied,  subse- 
quently, to  be  admitted  into  connection  with  the 
New- York  Presbytery.  At  his  request  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  examine  his  credentials,  and  to 
write  for  further  information  to  the  following  per- 
sons, viz.  the  Rev.  David  Bogue,  D.  D.  professor 
in  the  missionary  seminary  where  Mr.  F.  had  stu- 
died four  years  ;  the  Rev.  Geo.  Burder,  secretary  of 
the  Missionary  Society,  with  which  Mr.  Frey  was 
connected  from  1801  to  1809  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Waugh, 
one  of  the  original  directors,  and  at  the  time  a  di- 
rector of  that  society;  and  the  directors  of  the  Lon- 
don Society  for  promoting  Christianity  among  the 
Jews,  under  which  Mr.  F.  was  employed  from  1809 
to  1816 — the  period  of  his  emigration  to  this  coun- 
try. From  these  quarters,  and  from  James  Millar, 
Esq.  whom  we  have  already  named,  the  most  satis- 
factory answers  were  received,  fully  attesting  the 
purity  and  rectitude  of  Mr.  Frey's  hfe. 

2.  In  regard  to  the  second  report — after  Mr.  Frey 
had  completed  his  agency  for  the  American  Society 
for  meliorating  the  condition  of  the  Jews,  his  ac- 
counts were  examined,  audited,  and  approved,  by  a 
respectable  and  competent  committee.  On  the  books 
of  that  society  their  correctness  is  recorded  and  cer- 
tified ;  and  since  Mr.  Frey  became  a  Baptist,  the 
Board  of  Directors  (of  which  one  of  the  undersigned 
was  then,  and  had  been  for  several  years,  a  mem- 
ber) unanimously  voted  him  a  certificate,  amply  at- 
testing the  industry  and  faithfulness  with  which  he 
had  transacted  the  business  confided  to  his  hands. 

3.  As  to  the  third  report — when  Mr»  Frey  pro- 


166  frey's  narrative. 

posed  himself  for  ba}3tism  and  union  with  the  Baptist 
church  of  Christ  in  Mulberry-street,  New- York,  a 
committee  of  two  deacons  was  appointed  to  inquire 
respecting  his  character  and  standing  in  the  presby- 
tery with  which  he  stood  connected.  They  waited 
on  the  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Cox,  D.  D.  who  was  under- 
stood to  be  one  of  its  members,  and  the  reply  which 
that  gentleman  politely  and  promptly  returned,  was 
perfectly  satisfactory.  He  assured  them  that  Mr. 
Frey  was  a  member,  in  regular  and  good  standing, 
in  the  same  presbytery  with  himself. 

To  these  statements  we  forbear  to  add  any  re- 
marks. We  esteemed  it  our  duty  to  vindicate  the 
name  of  our  brother  from  an  undeserved  reproach  ; 
the  motives  of  its  authors  we  have  no  wish  to  ex- 
pose or  censure.  To  evince  his  integrity  and  inno- 
cence, v/e  think,  enough  has  been  said  ;  on  them  we 
seek  to  pass  no  judgment. 

Archibald  Maclay, 

Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Mulberry-street,  New-York. 

Charles  G.  Sommers, 

Pastor  of  the  South  Baptist  Church,  New-York. 

Spencer  H.  Cone, 

Pastor  of  the  Oliver-street  Baptist  Church,  New-York. 

D.  Dunbar, 

Pastor  of  the  North  Beriah  Baptist  Church,  New-York. 
New- York,  Dec.  6,  183 L 


appendix:. 


In  my  frequent  travels,  both  in  Britain  and  in  this  country,  I 
have  almost  in  every  place  been  asked  a  variety  of  questions 
relative  to  the  Jewjg.  Desirous  to  diffuse  information  to  those 
also  with  whom  I  have  no  opportunity  of  personal  conversation^ 
I  thought  it  might  be  acceptable  to  answer  the  most  common 
and  interesting  of  such  inquiries  in  an  appendix  in  this  edition 
of  my  Narrative.     These  queries  relate  either 

To  the  Jews,  called  in  Scripture,  "  The  dispersed  in  Judah," 
i.  e.  scattered  among  all  civilized  nations. 

1.  Do  the  present  Jews  know  to  which  tribe  they  belong  7 

I  answer  in  the  negative^  for  their  genealogies  are  totally  lost. 
No  Jew,  therefore,  can  tell  to  what  tribe  he  belongs,  except  the 
posterity  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  divided  into  Levites  and  priests, 
or  descendants  of  the  family  of  Aaron.  This  distinction,  how- 
ever, is  kept  up,  not  by  genealogy,  but  by  certain  ceremonies. 
Whenever  the  Law  is  read  in  the  synagogue,  the  first  person 
called  up  to  stand  at  the  right  hand  of  the  reader,  and  pro- 
nounce a  blessing,  is  a  priest,  or  cohen  ;  the  next  is  a  Leviie^ 
and  the  rest  are  called  Israelites.  Again ;  every  first-born 
male  must  be  redeemed  ;  i,  e.  the  parent  pays  to  the  priest  about 
the  value  of  five  shekels,  or  five  dollars.  No  priest  dares  enter 
the  house  containing  a  dead  body ;  nor  defile  himself  by  attend- 
ing a  funeral.  That  the  distinction  of  tribes  by  genealogies  was 
to  cease  after  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  was  foretold  in  the 
famous  prophecy  concerning  Sh'doh.  See  Gen. 49 :  9,  10.  The 
word  shevet,  translated  sceptre,  literally  signifies  a  rvd  or  staff] 
and  is  used  figuratively  as  a  sign  of  authority  of  a  lesser  or  greater 
magnitude  ;  viz.  as  a  judge,  ruler,  or  king.  See  2  Sam.  7 :  7. 
Compare  with  1  Chron.  17  :  6;  Psalm  45:  6.  In  this  place  the 
word  shevet  should  by  no  means  have  been  translated  sceptre  ;  for 
it  could  not,  with  any  sort  of  propriety,  be  said  that  "  the  seep- 


168  APPENDIX 

tre  should  not  depart  from  Judah,"  when  Judah  had  no  sceptre, 
nor  was  to  have  any  for  many  generations  afterwards.  Besides, 
if  it  had  been  designed  to  express  royal  authority,  the  objection 
of  the  Jew  would  be  unanswerable  when  he  saith,  "  The  royal 
sceptre  has  departed  from  Judah  at  the  Babylonish  captivity,  five 
hundred  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  and  therefore  he  could 
not  be  that  Shiloh,  or  Messiah."  1  am,  then,  inclined  to  think, 
that  the  plain  meaning  of  the  word  in  this  passage,  is  a  tribe. 
or  a  distinct  family,  as  it  evidently  is  used  in  verse  28th  of  this 
chapter.  The  patriarch  Jacob,  just  before  his  death,  was  en- 
dowed with  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  constituted  each  of  his  sons 
a  tribe,  or  the  head,  judge,  or  ruler,  of  a  large  family,  and  fore- 
told the  most  remarkable  circumstances  that  should  befall  each 
of  them.  Judah  was  singled  out  as  the  most  honorable  amongst 
his  brethren,  (see  verse  9,  10,)  because,  however  the  other  tribes 
might  be  scattered  or  mixed,  Judah  should  remain  a  distinct 
tribe  or  family,  each  of  them  to  be  known  by  his  genealogy, 
until  Shiloh,  i.  e.  the  Messiah,  should  have  come. 

Hence  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  preserved,  in  a  remarkable 
manner,  as  a  distinct  tribe,  until  after  the  birth  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  his  descent  from  Judah  had  been  established  beyond  con- 
tradiction. The  providence  of  God  watched  over  this  tribe 
particularly.  It  was  numbered  apart  in  David's  time,  1  Sam. 
24 : 9 ;  and  the  prophets  were  very  careful  of  the  genealogy  of 
this  tribe,  even  in  the  times  of  the  captivity,  as  appears  from 
Ezra  and  Nehemiah.  But,  soon  after  the  death  of  Jesus,  Jeru- 
salem was  destroyed,  and  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  dispersed,  and 
their  genealogies  confounded  and  lost,  in  such  a  manner,  that 
there  is  now  not  a  family,  even  not  the  house  of  David,  that 
know  for  a  certainty,  or  can  prove  their  line  of  descent. 

How  striking  a  proof  that  the  Messiah  must  have  come  long 
ago,  and  that  in  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  blessed  be  his  name,  this 
prediction  has  received  its  accomplishment !  He  came  for  whom 
was  ordered  the  distinction  of  tribes  and  genealogies,  to  mark 
his  descent  from  the  family  of  David,  the  tribe  of  Judah,  and 
the  seed  of  Abraham,  in  whom  all  the  families  of  the  earth 
were  to  be  blessed,  and  having  finished  their  design  and  desti- 
nation, they  exist  no  more. 

2.  Another  question  is,  Do  the  Jews  now  any  where  oflfer  up 


APPENDIX. 


169 


sacrifices.  This  also  is  to  be  answered  in  the  negative.  Since 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  temple,  by  Titus,  the  Jews 
no  where  have  offered  up  any  sacrifices,  because  God  himself 
had  restricted  them  to  that  place.  See  Deut.  1 2 :  10-14.  That 
sacrifices  were  to  cease  after  the  death  of  the  Messiah,  and  that 
the  children  of  Israel  were  to  remain  without  them  for  a  long 
time,  was  also  foretold  by  the  prophets.  See  Dan.  9 :  27,  and 
Hosea,  3 : 4.  ~  For  the  same  reason  the  Jews  use  no  passover- 
lamb,  but  have  substituted  one  of  their  cakes  of  unleavened 
bread. 

3.  Another  question,  still  more  frequently  proposed,  relates  to 
the  restoration  of  Israel.  It  is  asked,  "  Will  the  Jews  ever 
literally  return  to  their  own  land,  or  are  the  prophecies  to  be 
fulfilled  in  a  spiritual  sense  ?  If  they  return  to  their  own  land, 
will  it  be  before  or  after  their  conversion  ?  Is  the  time  of  their 
restoration  near  at  hand,  or  afar  off?"  To  answer  these  ques- 
tions in  a  manner  as  it  might  and  ought  to  be  done,  would  fill  a 
volume  of  considerable  size.  My  own  opinion  on  the  subject 
may  be  seen  in  the  Prospectus  at  the  end  of  this  Appendix, 
under  the  article,  the  Second  Advent  of  Christ.  But  to  assist 
the  reader  in  searching  the  Scriptures  for  himself,  and  form  his 
own  answers,  I  would  furnish  him  with  an  extract  from  a  very 
ancient  and  scarce  work. 

I.  The  Jews  shall  be  gathered  from  all  parts  of  the  earth 
where  they  are  now  scattered,  and  brought  home  into  their  own 
land.  See  Isaiah,  11:11;  27:12,  13;  43:5,  6;  49:11,12; 
60  :  4.  Compare  Jer.  3:18;  16  :  14,  15  ;  23  : 3  ;  30  :  10 ;  31  :  7, 
8 ;  32  :  37.  Also,  Hosea,  9  :  10,  11.  Zeph.  3  :  10.  Zech.  8 :  7, 
8  ;  10  :  8-10. 

II.  They  shall  be  carried  by  the  Gentiles  unto  their  place, 
who  shall  join  themselves  with  the  Jews,  and  become  the  Lord's 
people.  Isaiah,  49  :  22;  14  :  12 ;  GO  :  9;  66  :  19,  20;  2  :  2-4. 
Compare  Jer.  3  :  17  ;  16  :  19.  Ezek.  47  :  22,  23.  Micah,  5 :  3. 
Zech.  2:  11;  8:  20-23. 

III.  Great  miracles  shall  be  wrought  when  Israel  is  restored  5 
as  fi'merly,  when  they  were  brought  out  of  Egypt,  viz. 

1.  Drying  up  the  river  Euphrates.  Isaiah,  11  :  15,  16.  Zech. 
10  :  11.  Rev.  16  :  12.  Hosea,  2  :  15.     Micah,  7  :  15. 

2.  Causing  rivers  to  flow  in  desert  places.  Isaiah,  40  :  17-19; 
48  :  20,  21 ;  43  :  9,  20. 

15 


170  APPENDIX. 

3.  Giving  them  prophets.  Isaiah,  66  :  18-21.  Hosea,  12  : 9, 10. 

4.  The  Lord  Christ  shall  appear  at  the  head  of  them.  Isaiah, 
53  :  8  ;  52  :  12;  58  :  8.     Hosea,  1  :  10,  11.     Micah,  2  :  12,  13. 

IV.  Tlie  Jews  being  restored,  and  converted  to  the  faith  of 
Christ,  shall  be  formed  into  a  state,  and  have  judges  and  coun- 
sellors over. them,  as  formerly:  the  Lord  Christ  himself  being 
their  King,  who  shall  then  be  acknowledged  King  over  all  the 
earth.  Isaiah,  1  :  26j  60  :  17.  Compare  Jer.  23  :  4;  30  ;  8,  9, 
21.  Hosea,  3  :  5.  Ezek.  34  :  23,  24  ;  37  :  24,  25.  Isaiah,  54  :  5. 
Obad.  5  :  21.     Zech.  14  :  5,  9.     Psalm  22  :  27,  28. 

V.  They  shall  have  the  victory  over  all  tlieir  enemies,  and 
all  kings  and  nations  of  the  earth  shall  submit  unto  them.  Isaiah, 
11  :  13,  14;  41  :  14-16;  49  :  23;  60  :  12 ;  25  :  10-12.  Joel, 
3  :  7,  8,  19,  20.  Obad.  5  :  17,  18.  Micah,  4 : 6-8, 12,  13 ;  5 :  5-7 ; 
7:16,17.  Zech.  2:  13;  9:  13-15;  10:5,  6;  12:6.  Numb. 
24  :  17.     Isaiah,  49  :  23 ;  60  :  10-16  ;  66  :  19,  20. 

VI.  The  Jews  restored  shall  live  peaceably,  without  being 
divided  into  two  nations,  or  contending  with  one  another  any 
more.  Isaiah,  11  :  13,  14 ;  14  :  1,  2.  Jer.  3  :  11  ;  1:4.  Ezek. 
37:21,22.     Hosea,  1  :  11. 

1.  They  shall  be  very  numerous,  and  multiply  greatly.  Isaiah? 
27:  6;  44  :  3,  4;  49  :  18-21  ;  54  :  1-3;  61  :  9.  Jer.  23  :  3; 
30  :  18-20;  31  :  27.     Ezek.  19;  34  :  11 ;  36^  38,  39. 

2.  They  shall  have  great  peace,  safety,  and  outward  temporal 
prosperity.  Isaiah,  32  :  16-18  ;  33  :  24;  44  :  13-17;  60  :  18, 
21.  Jer.  23  :  3-6 ;  30  :  10  ;  32  :  34-41 ;  33  :  6-9;  50  :  19,  20. 
Joel,  3  :  17,  18.  Micah,  7  :  18-20.  Zeph.  3  :  13.  Zech.  3  :  9, 10. 

3.  They  shall  be  very  glorious,  and  a  blessing  in  the  whole 
earth.  Isaiah,  19  :  24,  25;  61  :  9.'  Jer.  33 :  9.  Ezek.  34  :  26. 
Zeph.  2  :  19,  20.     Zech.  8:13. 

VII.  The  land  of  Judea  shall  be  made  eminently  fruitful ; 
like  a  paradise,  or  the  garden  of  God.  Isaiah,  29  :  17;  35  :  1, 
2,7,9;  51:3,10:54:  11-13;  55:12,13;  60:17;  65:17,25. 
Ezek.  34  :  26,  27 ;  36  :  27.     Joel,  3  :  18.     Amos,  9  :  13,  14. 

VIII.  Jerusalem  shall  be  rebuilt,  and  after  the  full  restoration 
of  the  Jews,  shall  never  be  destroyed,  nor  infested  with  enemies 
any  more.  Isaiah,  52  : 1 ;  26  :  1 ;  60  :  18 ;  33  :  6.  Joel,  3  :  17. 
Obad.  5 :  17.     Zech.  14  :  10,  11.  Jer.  31  :  38-40.  Ezek.  38 :  11. 

IX.  A  little  before  the  time  of  the  Jews'  call  and  conversion, 
there  shall  be  great  wars,  confusion  and  desolation,  throughout 


APPENDIX.  171 

all  the  earth.  Isaiah,  34.  Joel,  31  :  10.  Zeph.  3  :  8,  9.  Ezek. 
28  :  25,  26.    Hag.  2  :  21-23.    Jer.  30  :  7-10.    2  Chro.  15  :  3-7. 

The  next  sort  of  queries  relate  to  the  Ten  Tribes,  called  the 
"  Outcast,''''  i.  e.  a  people  cast  out  of  the  knowledge  and  memory 
of  men.  Concerning  these  tribes  it  is  often  asked,  "Are  they 
still  in  existence  ?  Where  are  they  to  be  found?  Will  they  ever 
return  to  the  land  of  Canaan?  In  answering  these  queries,  it 
will  be  proper  to  attend  to  the  last  first.  That  the  ten  tribes 
will  return  again  to  the  land  of  promise,  as  well  as  the  Jews,  is 
evident  from  many  passages  of  Scripture  mentioned  in  the  pre- 
ceding extract.  Let  the  reader  seriously  consider  the  following 
gracious  promises :  Ezek.  36,  from  verse  23  to  36.  Here  not 
only  their  conversion  to  God  is  foretold,  but  also  their  dwelling  in 
their  own  land,  the  land  which  God  '•'■gave  to  their  fathers ;^^ 
that  they  should  build  cities,  and  enjoy  great  outward  prosperity. 
In  the  next  chapter,  the  return  of  the  lohole  house  of  Israel  is 
represented  in  the  beautiful  similitude  of  the  resurrection  of  a 
great  multitude  oi" dry  bones;  the  re-union  of  Judah  and  Israel 
is  predicted  by  the  miraculous  union  of  the  two  sticks  in  the 
hand  of  the  prophet.  Who,  after  reading  and  praying  over 
these  two  chapters,  can  doubt  whether  the  Jews,  and  the  ten 
tribes,  shall  be  re-established  in  Palestine?  This  vision  of  the 
prophet  has  never  yet  received  a  pnwiory,  or  partial  fulfillment. 
The  whole  of  it  remains  to  be  accomplished.  None  of  those 
written  on  the  second  stick,  in  the  hand  of  the  prophet,  have 
ever  yet  been  recovered.  The  whole  passage  is  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  battle  of  that  great  day  which  introduces  the 
miltennium,  as  appears  in  the  two  following  chapters.  Here 
the  house  of  Israel  enter  again  upon  their  everlasting  posses- 
sion of  the  land  of  promise,  which  God  engaged  to  our  father 
Abraham. 

Another  passage,  much  to  the  subject  in  hand,  is  Isaiah, 
11 :  11-16.  On  this  passage,  the  late  Mr.  Scott  (with  whom  I 
have  often  conversed  on  the  subject  of  the  Jews)  says :  "  For 
the  Lord  w^ill  then  remove  all  obstacles  by  the  same  powerful 
interposition  that  he  vouchsafed  in  behalf  of  Israel,  when  he 
separated  the  tongue,  or  bay  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  destroyed  that 
hinderance  to  the  departure  of  Israel ;  and  with  a  mighty  wind 
he  will  so  separate  the  waters  of  the  river  Euphrates,  in  all  its 
streams,  that  mm  may  pass  over  it  dry-shod.     Thus  an  high- 


172  APPENDIX. 

way  shall  be  made  for  Israel's  return,  as  there  was  for  their  an 
cestors  to  pass  from  Egypt  into  Canaan."  And  the  learned 
Bishop  Lowth  saith,  "  This  part  of  the  chapter  foretells  the  glo- 
rious times  of  the  church,  which  shall  be  ushered  in  by  the  res- 
toration of  the  Jewish  nation,  when  they  shall  embrace  the 
Gospel,  and  be  restored  to  their  own  country.  This  remarkable 
scene  of  Providence  is  plainly  foretold  by  most  of  the  prophets? 
and  by  St.  Paul."  The  future  return  of  the  ten  tribes  to  the 
land  of  Canaan  being  established,  there  can  remain  no  further 
doubt  respecting  their  distinct  existence  somewhere.  It  remains, 
therefore,  to  attend  only  to  the  more  difficult  question,  viz. 
WJiere  are  they  most  likely  to  be  found  ?  As  it  appears  from 
many  predictions,  and  especially  from  Ezekiel,  37th  chapter, 
that  they  are  a  very  g^reat  multitude,  we  seek  in  vain  for  them 
in  any  of  the  known  parts  of  the  world.  Is  it,  therefore,  not 
more  than  probable  that  the  great  body  of  them  arc  in  the  iii- 
ierior  of  Africa,  a  country  which  none  has  ever  been  able  to 
penetrate,  notwithstanding  the  many  attempts  which  have  been 
made.  This  opinion,  however,  is  not  designed  to  contradict  tlie 
opinions  of  those  learned  men  who  have  considered  the  Afghans^ 
the  henai  Israel,  or  black  Jews  in  Cochin  China,  and  the  Abori- 
gines in  this  country,  to  be  of  the  ten  tribes.  The  reader  will 
be  much  pleased  and  instructed  by  perusing  the  elaborate  work 
of  the  late  venerable  Dr.  Boudinot ;  "  Tlie  Star  in  the  West;^ 
and  the  "  View  of  the  Hebrews,''^  by  the  Rev.  Ethan  Smith, 


PROSPE  CTUS. 


The  author  of  this  Narrative  intends  publishing  JOSEPH 
AND  BENJAMIN,  or  a  Series  of  Letters,  in  three  parts. 

OBSERVATION. 

The  subjects  of  these  letters  are  the  result  of  more  than 
twenty  years'  close  investigation,  during  which  time  the 
author  had  access,  in  London,  to  large  libraries  and  the  best  of 
Jewish  writings ;  and  the  substance  of  these  letters  constituted, 
for  a  number  of  years,  his  lectures  to  the  Jews.  The  great  and 
important  object  in  view  is  to  show  that  the  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  religion  are  not  "  the  inventions  of  modern  hireling 
priests,"  but  are  contained  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  were 
known  and  believed  before  the  coming  of  Christ,  by  the  saints 
made  wise  unto  salvation.  The  greatest  part  of  the  work  is 
ready  for  the  press,  and  has  been  submitted  to  several  judicious 
persons  of  different  denominations,  who  have  highly  approved 
of  it,  and  warmly  recommended  it  to  the  public. 

CONTENTS. 

PART  L 

Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Christ. 

1.  The  necessitii  of  a  Mediator— in  15  letters.  Subjects — 
Divine  Revelation  5  the  character  of  God  ;  man's  state  of  inno- 
cency ;  his  fallen  condition. 

2.  Messiah  must  have  come — in  6  letters.  Subjects — The 
appointment  of  a  Mediator;  Jacob's  prediction  concerning 
Shiloh;  Haggai's  Desire  of  all  nations;  Daniel's  seventy 
weeks ;  Jewish  evasions. 

3.  Jesus  of  Naz^areth  is  the  promised  Messiah — in  19  let- 
ters. Subjects — Predictions  fulfilled  respecting  the  time  and 
circumstances  of  his  birth,  his  character,  his  miracles,  his  pro- 
phetic office ;  his  priestly  office ;  origin  and  design  of  sacri- 
fices; his  sufferings,  death,  and  burial ;  his  resurrection  and  as^ 
pension ;  his  kingly  office. 


174  PROSPECTUS. 

4.  T^e  second  advent  of  the  Messiah— m  12  letters.  ■  Sub- 
jects—The return  of  the  Jewish  nation  to  their  own  land,  in  an 
unconverted  state  ;  the  destruction  of  the  eastern  anti-christ ; 
Jerusalem  and  the  temple  rebuilt,  and  Judaism  re-established  ; 
the  converted  Jews  carried  to  Palestine ;  Jerusalem  besieged 
by  the  western  anti-christ ;  the  personal  appearance  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  the  battle  of  Temageddon ;  the  conversion 
of  the  Jewish  nation;  the  first  resurrection;  the  ten  tribes  of 
Israel  are  re-united  with  Judah ;  Satan  bound  for  a  thousand 
years,  and  the  personal  reign  of  Christ  on  the  earth. 

5.  Messiah  the  Judge  of  the  World— in  4  letters.  Subjects 
— The  general  resurrection  ;  the  judgment  day  ;  Heaven ; 
Hell. 

PART  n. 

Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God. 

1.  Messiah  was  to  be  a  Divine  Person — in  6  letters.  Sub- 
jects— The  trinity  in  unity;  the  angel  of  Jehovah  was  a  divine 
person  ;  this  angel  was  expected  to  be  the  Messiah. 

2.  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  tridy  God — in  5  letters.  Subjects — 
He  answers  to  the  divine  angel ;  he  has  every  criterion  of  the 
true  God. 

PART  III. 

The  importance  of  the  Divinity  of  Christ. 

1.  Consequences  if  he  he  not  tridy  God — in  6  letters.  Sub- 
jects— He  could  not  have  been  the  promised  Messiah,  but  a 
vile  deceiver ;  the  Jews  could  not  be  blamed  for  putting  to 
death  a  blasphemer ;  the  Mosaic  dispensation  is  not  abrogated, 
and  no  atonement  made  ;  the  New  Testament  and  the  Chris- 
tian religion  are  a  "  cunningly  devised  fable ;"  the  most  learned 
and  pious  Christians  in  former  ages  have  been,  and  those  now 
living  are,  gross  idolaters;  into  this  fatal  error  they  have  been 
led  simply  by  believing  the  Scriptures ;  but  who  can  believe 
that  a  revelation,  w^hose  chief  end  is  to  rescue  men  from  idolatry, 
and  to  bring  them  baclt  to  the  l<nowledge  and  service  of  God, 
which  was  propagated  by  men  the  most  exemplary  for  piety 
and   uprightness,   and   which  has  produced  effects  the  most 


PROSPECTUS.  175 

blessed  and  glorious,  should  lead  men  into  such  fatal  and  abo- 
minable errors  ? 

2.  Consequences  if  he  he  truly  God—'m  8  letters.  Subjects 
— God  is  love,  and  Jesus  Christ  has  furnished  us  with  a  most 
perfect  example ;  sin  appears  an  abomination,  and  love  and 
obedience  are  our  most  reasonable  duty;  the  rejecters  of 
Christ's  divinity  are  in  a  most  awful  condition ;  penitent  sin- 
ners have  the  greatest  encouragement  to  flee  to  Jesus  ;  believers 
in  Christ  may  rejoice  evermore  in  their  Savior  God ;  the 
friends  and  promoters  of  Zion's  welfare  may  take  encourage- 
ment from  the  certainty  of  ffnal  and  complete  success  in  the 
cause  of  a  divine  Redeemer. 

N.  B.  Conditions  will  be  published  hereafter. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

From  Presbyterian  Ministers  in  Neio-  York. 

The  subjects  embraced  in  the  work  entitled  "  Joseph  and 
Benjamin,"  proposed  to  be  published  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Samuel  C.  F.  Frey,  are,  in  themselves,  so  deeply  important, 
and  so  catholic  in  their  character,  that  all  who  have  any  right- 
eous claim  to  the  character  and  hopes  of  a  Christian,  will  re- 
joice in  every  prudent  and  proper  effort  to  explain,  defend,  and 
establish  them. 

Mr.  Frey's  previous  character  as  a  Jew ;  his  acquaintance 
with  the  Hebrew  language,  customs  and  traditions;  his  present 
character  as  a  Christian  minister,  and  his  necessarily  constant 
and  thorough  investigation  of  the  themes  he  proposes  to  discuss, 
peculiarly  qualify  him  lor  this  work.  In  the  hope  that  God 
the  Savior  will  be  glorified  through  its  influence,  the  subscri- 
bers cordially  recommend  the  proposed  publication  to  the  pa- 
tronage of  the  Christian  public. 

Alexander  McLeod,  D.  D.  |  Robert  McCartee, 
Stephen  N.  Rowan,  D.  D.    I  Joseph  McElroy, 
Samdel  H.  Cox,  D.  D.  |  Benjamin  H.  Rice. 

NeW'York,  Feb.  9th,  1830. 


176  PROSPECTUS. 


From  Ministers  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  New-  Yorh 

We  shall  be  much  gratified  in  seeing  the  contemplated  work 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frcy  before  the  public,  and  cordially  concur  in 
the  above  recommendation. 

John  Knox,  D.  D.  I  N.  J.  Marselus, 

H.  B.  Brownlee.D.  D.      Eli  Baldwin. 


Froin  Baptist  Ministers  in  New-  York. 

"We,  the  undersigned,  do  gladly  avail  ourselves  of  this  oppor- 
tunity to  express  our  entire  confidence  in  the  judgment  and 
ability  of  our  beloved  and  respected  brother  Elder  C.  F.  Frey, 
for  furnishing  the  Christian  public  with  the  interesting  work 
proposed  for  publication  in  the  above  prospectus. 

Mr.  Frey's  profound  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures ; 
his  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  best  Jewish  writings ;  his 
free  access,  for  many  years,  to  the  most  valuable  and  exten" 
sive  libraries  in  Europe,  and  his  general  character  as  an  able 
minister  of  the  New  Testament,  fully  justify  the  belief  that  his 
"  Joseph  and  Benjamin^''''  will  contain  matter  of  no  ordinary 
interest  to  the  advocates  of  Bible  Christianity.  The  judicious 
arrangement  exhibited  in  the  above  table  of  contents  needs  no 
commendation  from  us,  and  we  are  assured  by  those  wdio  have 
perused  the  manuscript,  that  his  method  of  discussion,  as  well 
as  the  matter  itself,  amply  sustains  the  expectatoin  excited. 

We  therefore  cheerfully  recommend  the  work  to  the  patron- 
age of  all  the  friends  of  Zion,  as  a  most  reasonable  antidote  to 
those  erroneous  and  pernicious  principles  so  extensively  propa- 
gated in  the  present  day. 


Archibald  McClay, 

D.  Dunbar 

Jacob  H.  Brouner. 


Spencer  H.  Cone, 
Ch.  G.  Sommers. 


Princeton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Library 


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